Contact: Natali Segovia, Staff Attorney, WPLC: defense@waterprotectorlegal.orgNLG International Committee: international@nlg.org Honolulu—The Water Protector Legal Collective (WPLC), alongside the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) and National Lawyers Guild (NLG), filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief today in support of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s complaint against the United States government, President Joe Biden, and […]
Category Archives: Amicus Briefs
An amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief is an important way for the NLG to contribute its analysis of important but undeveloped aspects of critical cases. In appropriate cases, the Guild also joins briefs drafted by other organizations. NLG members, counsel, and others with recommendations for cases that you believe would benefit from an NLG amicus brief should read these guidelines and contact our Amicus Committee. Click the links below to view some of our previously filed briefs.
Arkansas Times, LP v. Mark Waldrip, et. al
The NLG and Project South have filed an amicus brief in Arkansas Times, LP v. Mark Waldrip, et. al, challenging Arkansas’ Anti-BDS law. The case is on appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Such anti-boycott laws which trample upon the First Amendment have passed in dozens of states across the country and are […]
Ross William Ulbricht v. USA (February 2018)
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief on February 5, 2018 in Ross William Ulbricht v. United States of America, on petition for writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. The petitioner was sentenced to life in prison after the FBI tracked his location without a […]
USA v. Ahmed Abdel Sattar, Mohammed Yousry, and Lynne Stewart (March 2003)
USA v. Ahmed Abdel Sattar, Mohammed Yousry, and Lynne Stewart: This brief is in support of attorney Lynne Stewart’s motion to dismiss the charges in Counts One and Two of the indictment against her. It argues that the material support counts of the indictment fail to meet constitutional muster for three reasons: 1) the statute’s […]
Rumsfeld v. Padilla (April 2004)
Rumsfeld v. Padilla: This brief argues that the prolonged and indefinite incommunicado detention of Jose Padilla as an enemy combatant–an American citizen arrested on American soil–was without due process of law or any of the other procedural protections guaranteed under the United States Constitution to civilian detainees. The brief argues that there is no constitutional, […]
Abu-Jamal v. Horn (July 2006)
Abu-Jamal v. Horn: This brief addresses improper statements by the prosecutor during the 1982 trial of Mumia Abu-Jamal. The brief gives special consideration to the prosecutor’s attempts to guide the jurors to distance themselves from the significance of their decision – whether or not to send a person to death. The prosecutor told the jury […]
Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 (October 2006)
Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1: U.S. Supreme Court, No. 05-908 2006 U.S. S. Ct. Briefs LEXIS 1040 The case involves affirmative action programs designed to end de facto discrimination in public elementary and secondary schools. The NLG opposes efforts to misuse the 14th Amendment to prevent such programs. This […]
Hammer v. Ashcroft (November 2009)
Hammer v. Ashcroft: In support of death row inmates’ right to person-to-person meetings with reporters. This brief focuses on the fact that the current Bureau of Prison’s (BOP) proscription of in-person communication between maximum security inmates and members of the press is inappropriately based on the anticipation that the speech will be offensive to government officials […]
Churchill v. Board of Regents of Univ. of Colorado (September 2011)
Ward Churchill v. Board of Regents of University of Colorado This brief argues in support of Ward Churchill’s appeal that his firing poses a threat to the First Amendment rights of all people, and particularly to academic freedom. The brief contends further that immunity granted to university regents for their role in Churchill’s firing could […]
Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder (February 2013)
Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder The NLG brief in support of the respondents underscores the obligation of the Supreme Court not to arrogate to itself the job of the legislature, especially in the face of overwhelming evidence supporting the legitimacy of Congress’s decision to extend the constitutionally crucial role of Section 5 of the Voting […]