David Sciarra has joined the law firm Genova Burns LLC as of counsel, according to a Sunday evening news release.
Before joining the firm, Sciarra served as the head of the Education Law Center in Newark for over 20 years, where he became a pivotal figure in the fight for educational equity over that time. Most notably, Sciarra was integral in the landmark Abbott vs. Burke case, where the Education Law Center claimed New Jersey’s method of funding public schools under the Public School Education Act of 1975 was unconstitutional. The ruling compelled the school system in the state to reduce inequalities in its funding and ensure all students, regardless of economic background, have access to education.
“The most significant is the Abbott mandate for high-quality early education for all 3- and 4-year-olds in high-poverty communities,” Sciarra said of the case.
Sciarra credits his predecessor, Marilyn Morheuser, at the Education Law Center as a source of inspiration.
Sciarra has practiced as a civil rights lawyer since 1978, working on cases involving socioeconomic rights, affordable housing, welfare rights and much more. He also writes and lectures on education law and policy.
Sciarra received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
