The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has brought in attorney and ethics advisor Jeff Trexler as Interim Director, the organization announced. Trexler “…will oversee and update the organization’s operations to more effectively execute the CBLDF mission, drawing on his breadth of legal experience as a law professor and an ethics advisor for a variety of non-profit organizations, media companies and fashion brands,” the organization said in its announcement.

Most recently, Trexler was Associate Director of the Fashion Law Institute.  He is a member of the Ethics Committee at Kering Americas, has served on the board of the Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art.  Trexler holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court and New York bars.  He also has a Ph.D. in American Religious History from Duke University. 

“Jeff’s depth of experience coupled with his skill and dedication to the industry is the leadership the organization needs,” CBLDF President Christina Merkler said of the hire. “He will leverage that experience to cultivate an inclusive, responsive and relevant organization to support our community.”

“The original mission of the CBLDF is one I passionately support as a longtime member of the comics community,” Trexler said. “This is a time of evolution for the organization and I am honored to be part of it.

The hire comes as the CBLDF seeks a steady hand at a challenging time for the Fund.  Former Executive Director Charles Brownstein resigned in June after creators withdrew or made public their earlier withdrawal of support for the organization over an allegation of sexual misconduct by Brownstein at a 2005 convention which resurfaced recently.  Three board members subsequently left the Fund’s board (see “Three Board Members Leave CBLDF”).