Anya Bidwell

Listen to Anya, Adam Liptak, and John Malcolm discuss qualified immunity on Intelligence Squared. 

Listen to Anya discuss policing on the New Yorker Radio Hour.  

Anya Bidwell (née Cherkasova) leads IJ’s Project on Immunity and Accountability (“PIA”). Through this project, Anya works to promote judicial engagement and ensure that government officials are held to account when they violate individuals’ constitutional rights. Anya also serves as an adviser on the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law, Constitutional Torts project.

Anya’s most recent focus has been on First Amendment retaliation. On March 20, 2024, Anya argued Gonzalez v. Trevino before the United States Supreme Court. On June 20, the Court agreed that petitioner, Ms. Gonzalez, should be able to proceed with her First Amendment lawsuit against officials who engineered her arrest. This ruling makes it easier for victims of retaliation, like Ms. Gonzalez, to vindicate their rights and restore their good name. 

This was Anya’s third appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court. She second-chaired Brownback v. King (an excessive force case) and Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas (a commerce clause case) in November 2020 and January 2019 respectfully.

Before joining IJ, Anya worked for a top national law firm, handling cases in trial and appellate courts. She earned her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas. Two years prior to entering law school, Anya received a master’s degree in Global Policy Studies, also from the University of Texas, and wrote a thesis on asymmetric warfare.

Anya spent her childhood in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. At 16, she left her family behind and came to America on a university scholarship. Her upbringing motivated her to study law and become an advocate for a strong, independent judiciary.

Anya’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, and the Guardian. She is also the host of live recordings of our Short Circuit podcast and a co-producer of our documentary-style podcast Bound by Oath.