Court Cases
Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project and Humanitarian Law Project v. Holder (Amicus Brief)
In these consolidated cases, which address the scope of the so-called “material support” statute, the Brennan Center submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court on behalf of academic researchers and a professional media association.
– 11/23/09
League of Women Voters v. Rokita
The League of Women Voters of Indiana and the League of Women Voters of Indianapolis challenged Indiana’s Voter ID Law under provisions of the Indiana State Constitution. The Indiana law is the most restrictive ID law in America, and will exclude many eligible voters from participating in our democratic process. On November 9, 2009, various parties filed amicus briefs in support of Plaintiffs. On June 30, 2010, the Supreme Court of the State of Indiana affirmed the decision of the trial court and granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss.
– 11/10/09
Al Maqaleh v. Gates (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center for Justice and co-counsel submitted an amicus brief on behalf of retired military officers, urging the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm the District Court’s decision to grant habeas review to three non-Afghan citizens apprehended outside Afghanistan and detained at Bagram Theater Internment Facility.
– 11/06/09
North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) Complaint
The Brennan Center works to ensure access to legal representation and enforcement of labor rights for workers in the United States on H2-B visas.
– 10/27/09
Lochren v. County of Suffolk (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison filed an amicus brief, on behalf of 30 public interest organizations and law firms asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for en banc consideration of the standard for awarding attorneys’ fees that the Court adopted in Lochren v. County of Suffolk.
– 10/27/09
Brennan Center v. U.S. DOJ, HHS, USAID
The Brennan Center has filed a FOIA lawsuit seeking the 2004 U.S. Office of Legal Counsel opinion stating that the anti-prostitution pledge requirement is unconstitutional.
– Ongoing
Milavetz v. U.S.A. (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center, along with the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the Connecticut Bar Association, and AARP, filed an amicus brief in a case challenging the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, a law that contains provisions imposing various restrictions on the speech and activities bankruptcy attorneys.
– 08/28/09
Simmons v. Galvin
Simmons vs. Galvin was a challenge to the Massachusetts law which disenfranchises people with felony convictions from voting while they are incarcerated.In a 2-1 decision, the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling and held that no claims can be brought against Massachusetts law under the Voting Rights Act.
– 08/05/09
NAMUDNO v. Holder
NAMUDNO v. Holder involves a constitutional challenge to the Voting Rights Act, perhaps the country’s single most successful piece of civil rights legislation.
– 06/22/09
Caperton v. Massey
Justice Brent Benjamin of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia refused to recuse himself from the appeal of a $50 million jury verdict in this case, even though the CEO of the lead defendant spent $3 million supporting his campaign. Did Benjamin’s failure to recuse violate the Due Process Clause?
– 06/08/09