Joshua Colangelo-Bryan

Joshua Colangelo-Bryan is Special Counsel at Human Rights First, where he spearheads innovative impact litigation and advocacy efforts to advance international human rights, uphold democratic principles, and support defenders of human rights globally.

For over 20 years, his practice has focused on human rights, civil rights, and national security matters. For example, beginning in 2004, he represented six now-released Guantanamo Bay detainees. He was counsel to peaceful protestors who were attacked in 2017 by Turkish security agents in Washington, D.C. He also defends parties named in Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, including clients advocating for Palestinian rights and religious pluralism in India. Further, he has conducted human-rights investigations in countries such as Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain.

Josh previously served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, working on the prosecution of war crimes cases and serving as a liaison to Yugoslav and Serbian officials. In the late 1990s, he did post-conflict humanitarian aid work in the Balkans.

He has provided commentary on CNN, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, This American Life, and All Things Considered. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times. He has authored op-eds in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian and has spoken before Congress and at colleges, law schools, churches, synagogues, and conferences regarding Guantanamo and international law.