Press Releases

Government of Guam Inexplicably Delays Plebiscite Appeal

The Government of Guam recently declined an opportunity to expedite consideration of its appeal of a lower court judgment striking down its long-planned plebiscite on Guam’s future relationship to the United States.

Earlier this month, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit offered to expedite its review of Guam’s

CIR, Teachers Ask Supreme Court to End Compulsory Union Dues

CIR’s brief pulls from evidence in pending Yohn v. CTA case and asks court to restore workers’ First Amendment rights and end burdensome opt-out procedures.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Center for Individual Rights (CIR) today filed an amicus brief in Janus v. AFSCME on behalf of seven California teachers. CIR’s brief

CIR Applauds SCOTUS Decision to Hear Workers’ Rights Case

Favorable Janus v AFSCME decision would be first step to restoring workers’ constitutional rights

WASHINGTON, DC – The Center for Individual Rights (CIR) today praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear Janus v. AFSCME in 2018.

“Every worker in America should have the right to choose – without fear or coercion

California Attorney General Agrees to Protect Free Speech Rights

Washington, D.C. – The Center for Individual Rights reached a settlement with the Attorney General of California this week that guarantees the Attorney General will not use California Code section 8195 to stifle legitimate First Amendment speech. The state of California previously attempted to ban artist Timothy Desmond from displaying

Preliminary Injunction Filed Challenging the Commonwealth’s Ban on Non-Lethal Weapons

Boston, Massachusetts – Today, a preliminary injunction was filed asking the court to prohibit law enforcement from continuing to deprive Massachusetts citizens from exercising their 2nd Amendment right to own a non-lethal stun gun.

On February 16th, in a potentially precedent-setting lawsuit regarding self-defense rights of private citizens, three Massachusetts residents

Federal Judge Strike Down Race-based Guam Plebiscite

Washington, DC — US Federal Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood today struck down the Government of Guam’s plans to hold a referendum on the future relation of Guam to the United States.  Tydingco-Gatewood found that the plebiscite restricted participation to “Native Inhabitants of Guam” in violation of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth

Lawsuit Filed Challenging Massachusetts’ Ban on Non-Lethal Self-Defense Weapons

Boston, Massachusetts – In a potentially precedent-setting lawsuit regarding self-defense rights of private citizens, three Massachusetts residents have teamed with The Center for Individual Rights (CIR) and Commonwealth Second Amendment, Inc. (comm2a.org) in challenging the constitutionality of a state law banning stun guns and other non-lethal electrical weapons. The plaintiffs

CIR Files Suit on Behalf of Teachers Against the California Teachers Association

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Center for Individual Rights (CIR) today filed a lawsuit against the California Teachers Association (CTA) on behalf of 8 California teachers and the Association of American Educators. The suit challenges the constitutionality of California’s “agency shop” law, which violates the First Amendment by forcing public

Friedrichs Teachers File Petition for Re-Hearing of Supreme Court Case

Teachers say case is too important to let a tie decision stand

Washington, D.C.—Today lawyers for nine California teachers filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to re-hear arguments in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association when a new Justice is confirmed.

Late last month the Supreme Court issued a 4-4 split decision

Press Release: Supreme Court Split on Union Fees

Supreme Court Split on Union Fees Tied decision leaves fees in place; teachers want case re-heard

Washington, D.C.—Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued a tied decision in Friedrichs v. California Teacher’s Association, the case challenging mandatory union fees.

The 4-4 decision leaves laws in place in 25 states and the District of Columbia