Ann del Llano

We envision a Texas  where broadly shared economic opportunity and a robust democratic process flourish. As the director of Southern Shift, I am dedicated t o making Southern Shift work for you. We work hard every day to provide the Southern Shift experience - a welcoming space to cultivate stimulating conversations about how lifestyle issues, political issues and elected officials affect our daily lives and what we can do about it.

I produce content and manage the business division. If there is anything I can do to improve your Southern Shift experience, please don't hesitate to let me know.  Click here to send me an email.

Favorite webcasts:

• Black Coffee Program (mp3 archives on the Facebook page)
  
• Breakdown FM
• Fatbeats Live!
  
• The Pixie Solution

Favorite books:

• Marijuana is SAFER: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? by Steve Fox, Paul Armentano, Mason Tvert and Norm Stamper
• The Entrepreneurial Secret by Cedric Muhammad
  
• Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
• Device Volume 2: Reconstructed
  

Favorite Onion headlines:

• U.S. Deports Lou Dobbs
• Obama: Health Care Plan Would Give Seniors Right to Choose How They Are Killed
• Charlton Heston's Gun Taken From His Cold, Dead Hands
  

Current volunteer activities:

• East Austin Leadership Development Program
• Police Improvement Team

Professional creds:

• Licensed Attorney since 1995
• Texas Lobbyist beginning in 2001
• Member of the State Bar of Texas and the State Bar of California

Professional Experience

Southern Shift Director
2009-present
Austin, Texas

Campaign Consultant and Lobbyist
Capitol City Solutions
2003-2009
Austin, Texas

Trial Attorney
Law Office of Ann del Llano
1995-2003
Austin, Texas

Education

Doctor of Jurisprudence
1991-1994
University of California, Hastings College of the Law
San Francisco, California

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
1987-1990
University of Texas
Austin, Texas

Philosophy Major
1986-1987
Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas

Ann del Llano In the News

Supreme Planning in Business: Balancing Creative and Critical Thought, by Cedric Muhammad

 "....I recently was further enlightened on this subject through conversation with a client--a brilliant lawyer, political professional and entrepreneur, Ann del Llano (http://www.capitolcitysolutions.com/)..."The Final Call, February 18, 2008

Debate sizzles on city charter amendments, by Kate Alexander

"Some Austin havyweights offered up answers for Kass and the rest of the crowd at a public forum sponsored by St. Edward's University. On one side: Bill Bunch of the Save Our Springs Alliance and Ann del Llano of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. On the other side former Mayor Gus Garcia and former Council Member daryl Slucher...del Llano said the measure 'is about people having acess to their government.'..." Austin American Statesman, April 14, 2006

UT group fights pot penalty: Marijuana rules should be same as for alcohol. which is deadlier, it says, by Karen Brooks

"....'If you look at the rules about how you can be suspended from school. we believe the university is encouraging drinking," said Ann del Llano, a civil-liberties lawyer working with SAFER Texas. 'We see this as a life-or-death matter. If they had brought [Mr. Phoummarath] an infinite amount of marijuana and forced him to consume it, he'd be alive and breathing today.'" Dallas Morning News, February 13, 2006

Conference brings social ills to the fore: Organizers aim to improve conditions in low-income areas, by Frank Trejo

"....'The sessions today have been electrifying and energizing," said J. McDonald Williams, chairman and founder of the Foundation for Community Empowerment .... Ann del Llano... spoke about the impact incarceration and felony convictions have on people and communities. She noted that in Texas, someone who is convicted of a felony is labeled a felon for life and barred from certain services and even jobs. 'In our constitution, a felon is a second-class citizen,' she said...." Dallas Morning News, October 28, 3005

Prosecutors Get Pounded: The district attorneys meet their own personal Alamo in the 79th Legislature, by Jonathan York

"For more than30 years, district attorneys have held sway on criminal justice issues at the Texas Capitol.... For the first time in recent memory, the prosecutors receied a series of stinging setbacks on a major legislation they opposed.... Ann del Llano, a lobbyist with the ACLU of Texas, said people were wondering where the prosecutors had been...." The Texas Observer, june 24, 2005

A huddle to help ex-cons adjust: Group talking about how to provide jobs, housing, counseling, by Mike Ward

"....a group of more than 70 state and local leaders -- including ... a Who's Who of justice and civic leaders -- sat down with the woman and other ex-convicts, their family members, top parole officials and even crime victims to plot how to help ex-convicts become law-abiding, taxpaying citizens once they leave prison.....Ann del Llano, criminal justice liaison for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the new interest in helping ex-convicts is occuring nationally' as most people realize that prorisoners do their time and then back to the community...." Austin American Statesman, May 1, 2004

Citizen oversight of police needed now more than ever, by Ann del Llano

"....The city has the perfect opportunity to fix the lack of police discipline right now by insisting on meaningful amendments to the police meet and confer contract...." Austin American Statesman, February 4. 2004

Patriot Act gets a Texas defender: U.S. attorney making public case in support of much criticized law, by Steven Kreytak

"....'Americans should not be investigated and not have their privacy invaded unless there's probable cause to know they have committed crime,' said Ann del Llano, an Austin lawyer...." Austin American Statesman, September 21, 2003

Focus group to suggest hiring police auditor, by Jason Spencer

"Detective Mike Sheffield, a task force member and president of the police association, suggested that members of the task force participate in those talks. Ann del Llano, chairwoman of the Sunshine Project for Police Accountability, lauded Sheffield's suggestion. 'That's pretty radical thinking,' she said......" Austin American Statesman, January 11, 2000

Idea for gangs: Face thy neighbor, by Dave Harmon and Angela Shah

"....Ann del Llano, a lawyer for Shang Yahoshua, another of the injunction defendants ... said she became very interested in the circle idea after Earle's office started talking about reduced sentences for two pending drug charges if Yahoshua participants in a circle. 'When you start talking like that, people come to the table in a hurry.' she said....." Austin American Statesman, October 17, 1998

In Texas Town, Pact Separates Religion and High School Sports, by The New York Times

"....It was a teacher who first contacted the A.C.L.U., said Ann del Llano, the lawyer who filed the suit. 'Students were starting to drop out of athletics,' Ms. del Llano said, 'and she was concerned that more were going to be dropping out soon.'...." The New York Times, April 4, 1996