Robert Appel, J.D.

Robert Appel is a Vermont litigator who recently retired after 30+ years in VT state government. He served as Executive Director and Legal Counsel of the Vermont Human Rights Commission (2001-2013), Defender General (1993-2001), Asst. Attorney General for Civil Rights (1988-1993), and a public defender (1986-1988). He was also employed as an investigator, first by the Office of the Defender General and then by the Office of the Attorney General. He is currently a Director of the Vermont Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Mr. Appel focuses his practice in the areas of employment law and civil rights, particularly police accountability and disability rights. He has worked extensively in legislative and policy development on human rights and criminal justice issues.