Dayja S. Tillman is an Associate Attorney at Goodman Hurwitz & James, P.C.. Born in Pontiac, Michigan, and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Dayja’s commitment to civil rights is driven by a deep-seated dedication to challenging the criminalization of poverty and advocating for those targeted by systemic governmental misconduct. This focus on social justice has defined her legal career, leading her to work across the country in Tennessee, California, and Michigan.

Dayja received her Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Occidental College in 2017 and her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 2022. While in law school, she served as an Executive Board Member for the UC Davis Law Review and was a recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award and the Reynoso Academic Achievement Award. She also gained hands-on litigation experience through the ACLU Capital Punishment Project and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, where she focused on the Fair Housing Act and financial discrimination.

Prior to joining Goodman Hurwitz & James, P.C., Dayja served as a Legal Fellow for the ACLU of Michigan. In this capacity, she litigated high-profile civil rights matters and class actions while serving as a public advocate for the rights of the unhoused population through various speaking engagements and community trainings. Since joining the firm as an Associate Attorney in 2024, her practice has focused on § 1983 civil rights litigation, governmental misconduct, and wrongful death. She has also served as local counsel for esteemed national organizations in federal civil rights litigation.

Dayja is admitted to practice in all Michigan and Tennessee state courts, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.