Court Cases
Justice
Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (Amicus Brief)
In January of 2006, the Brennan Center and Professor William N. Eskridge Jr. filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court in support of the petitioner, arguing that there is no statute authorizing Hamdan to be tried by a military commission.
– 01/06/06
Padilla v. Hanft (Amicus Brief)
In 2005, the Brennan Center filed with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals an amicus brief, urging the court to prohibit the executive branch from detaining individuals indefinitely in a military setting.
– 06/14/05
Qassim v. Bush (Amicus Brief)
On behalf of six judges, the Brennan Center filed in the D.C. Circuit Court an amicus brief that brings light to the dangers of indefinite executive detention and urges the court to place checks on the executive branch.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights - Immigrant Rights
The Brennan Center participated in an amicus brief in support of a Mexican government petition to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights alleging that various types of U.S. discrimination against undocumented immigrants violate international human rights instruments.
– 09/17/03
Sanchez v. Turner
The Brennan Center represented federal and state welfare benefits applicants and the advocacy organization, Make the Road by Walking, in a lawsuit against New York City to allow advocates to set up help desks in the public areas of benefits offices
– 12/10/02
People of the State of New York v. Nicholson McCoy (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center filed an amicus brief on behalf of Sharwline Nicholson, a mother who lost custody of her children due to alleged neglect, arguing in favor of a parent’s right to counsel in cases involving termination of parental rights.
– 10/16/02
United States v. Legal Services of New York City (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center represented bar associations, legal services lawyers, and other advocates who intervened as amici in a lawsuit defending the ability of Legal Services for New York City to withhold confidential client information from the Inspector General of the Legal Services Corporation.
– 04/10/01
Southern Christian Leadership Conference v. Louisiana Supreme Court
A coalition of community activists, students, and law professors - represented by the Brennan Center for Justice and local counsel - filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the Louisiana Supreme Court over the Court’s amendments to Rule XX, the Court’s rule governing the practice of law by law clinic students.
– 04/19/99
HUD and Oakland Housing Authority v. Pearlie Rucker (Amicus Brief)
In 1999, the Brennan Center filed an amicus brief on the behalf of four elderly tenants against whom the Oakland Housing Authority filed detainer actions for alleged violations of the “drug-related criminal activity” provisions of their leases.
– 03/12/99
People of the State of Illinois v. Detra W. (Amicus Brief)
In September 2004, the Brennan Center was a signatory on an amicus brief filed in the Supreme Court of Illinois that argued that a mother’s right to retain custody of her children should not be terminated permanently based on a history of incarceration.