Constitutional Attorney, Educator, and Co-Founder of the New Paradigm Institute
Harvard-trained constitutional litigator and educator whose work helped shape pivotal moments in American law and public life. From the Pentagon Papers to Silkwood and Iran-Contra, Daniel Sheehan has spent five decades defending civil liberties and the public’s right to know.
Today, his primary focus is advancing responsible UAP disclosure through the New Paradigm Institute.
Pentagon Papers • Karen Silkwood • Three Mile Island • American Sanctuary Movement • Greensboro Civil Rights • Iran-Contra
“A one-of-a-kind educator… able to present history within a compelling philosophical and ethical frame.”
~Geoffrey Wallace, Former Ombudsman, UC Santa Barbara
Daniel Sheehan’s Landmark Cases & Public Interest Work
Pentagon Papers (NYT v. U.S.)
Helped secure the right of major newspapers to publish a classified Pentagon study revealing the secret history of the Vietnam War.
Eisenstadt v. Baird
Litigation that laid groundwork for reproductive freedom precedents later cited in Roe v. Wade.
Silkwood v. Kerr-McGee
Historic nuclear safety case; Supreme Court upheld a $10.5M judgment.
Three Mile Island
Won order halting release of nuclear effluents after the partial core meltdown.
American Sanctuary Movement
Helped protect the rights of refugees fleeing violence in Central America.
Greensboro Civil Rights
Civil rights judgment against KKK, American Nazi Party, and local police after demonstrator killings.
Iran-Contra (Avirgan v. Hull)
Civil RICO suit that illuminated a pattern of covert operations and helped catalyze public scrutiny.
Lakota People’s Law Project
As lead attorney and general counsel for the Lakota People’s Law Project, Sheehan and team fought ICWA violations and supported the #NoDAPL movement. The project combined legal advocacy with public education.
The People’s Advocate
Daniel Sheehan’s memoir traces his path from Harvard to headline cases—Pentagon Papers, Watergate, Silkwood, the Sanctuary Movement, and Iran-Contra—offering a rare inside view of cause lawyering in America.
