Feeling that New York City’s eight specialized high schools contain too many Asian students, Mayor Bill de Blasio is changing an admissions program to limit the ability of students to get into predominately Asian-American schools. However, his so-called racial balancing effort will squeeze out Asian students—nearly three-quarters of whom come from low-income families. On behalf of Yi Fang and a number of Asian-American parents, the Asian-American Coalition for Education, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York, and the Christa McAuliffe Parent Teacher Organization, the plaintiff filed a federal lawsuit challenging the mayor’s unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.
Read Yi Fang, Asian-American advocacy groups, and the Christa McAuliffe PTO’s case
Pacific Legal Foundation is one of the most active and effective public interest legal organizations in the United States. PLF has won an unprecedented 11 victories in its 13 cases before the Supreme Court—a record of success unmatched by any other public interest legal organization.
Read about our missionBallinger v. City of Oakland
When the Air Force reassigned Lyndsey and Sharon Ballinger to Washington DC, in 2015, they kept their house in Oakland, California, renting it on a month-to-month lease so they could return to it. When the couple and their two small children came home this spring, a new city law forced them to pay their tech-sector tenants $6,500—for the right to move back into their own home. The law aims to help residents affected by soaring housing costs. But because the law’s good intent comes at the expense of their constitutional protections, the Ballingers filed a federal lawsuit.
Read moreKnick v. Scott Township Pennsylvania
In 2013, government agents forced Rose Knick to allow public access to a suspected gravesite on her farmland. Rose sued over the unconstitutional property taking. But a federal court refused to hear her federal claim citing the 1985 Supreme Court decision Williamson County. Rose has asked the Court to overturn this precedent so property rights are on equal footing with other rights such as due process and free speech. On behalf of Rose and all property owners, PLF argued Knick before the Supreme Court on October 3, 2018.
Read moreWeyerhaeuser/Markle v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
As a child, Edward Poitevent’s family cut down Christmas trees on their lumber-rich land in Louisiana, and one day he’d like to leave the property to his own children. But federal bureaucrats jeopardized his legacy when they declared nearly 1,500 acres of his family’s private land as a critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog—a species not seen in the state for more than 50 years. Neither the Endangered Species Act nor congressional intent justifies such government-sanctioned property theft. Represented by PLF, Edward sued to defend his constitutionally protected property rights. In a unanimous decision announced November 27, 2018, the High Court agreed with Edward that the Fish and Wildlife Service overstepped its authority with the critical habitat designation and the Court remanded the case so that the lower court could consider Edward’s arguments anew.
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PLF asks Supreme Court to hear Alaska permafrost case
This week, PLF filed a petition asking the United States Supreme Court to review Tin Cup, LLC v US Army Corps of Engineers, a case that asks whether the federal government can control land uses on buried frozen permafrost just because the government claims such permafrost is a “navigable water” In 1992, Congress directed the Army Corps of Engineers to
Read moreWe’ve finally made it to the merits in our happy hour advertising lawsuit. It’s been a struggle. As I detailed in the Washington Post, the Virginia ABC (and the state … ›
Read moreStanford Vina Ranch Irrigation Company is a California non-profit water company that has been lawfully using water from Deer Creek for irrigation since 1862. When drought struck the state in … ›
Read moreToday, PLF filed an amicus brief at the United States Supreme Court arguing against protectionist policies in the case of Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Blair. During the … ›
Read moreThis nation’s long-standing respect for private enterprise, individual freedom, and private property ownership has led to the most dynamic engines for growth the world has ever known. When the sphere … ›
Read moreYesterday, we filed our final merits brief in California Cattlemen’s Association v. California Fish & Game Commission, challenging the listing of the gray wolf as an endangered species under the California … ›
Read moreToday, Pacific Legal Foundation filed a Petition asking the United States Supreme Court to hear a case about whether permafrost is a “navigable water.” In 1992, Congress directed the Army … ›
Read morePeople use money to express themselves. Resistance T-shirts, MAGA hats, donations to moveon.org, promoted tweets—whatever your views may be, shouting louder than the other guy will cost you. So, what … ›
Read morePublic land stewards reiterate that the president can reduce the size of national monuments Briefing is now complete on the motion to dismiss Utah Diné Bikéyah v. Trump, a case … ›
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