Press Releases

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

Press Release: Union Fees Case is Not Over

Union Fees Case is Not Over Legal team plans to move for Friedrichs case to be re-heard

Washington, D.C.—Today the Center for Individual Rights announced plans to ensure the full Supreme Court — including a newly confirmed Justice — can render an authoritative decision in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association.

Saturday’s death of

Ninth Circuit Revives Guam Voting Rights Case

The Ninth Circuit today issued an opinion reinstating a lawsuit challenging the voting restrictions for Guam’s plebiscite on political status.  Today’s decision reversed District Judge Tydingco-Gatewood’s decision in early 2013 dismissing the lawsuit on standing and ripeness grounds, and sent the case, brought by plaintiff Arnold Davis, who was represented

Center for Individual Rights Petitions Supreme Court to End Compulsory Union Dues

Federal Teacher Suit Aims to Stop Attack on First Amendment Rights

Washington, DC, January 26, 2015—Teachers fed up with paying dues to unions that do not represent their interests could soon be getting their day in court.  Together with Jones Day’s Michael Carvin, the Center for Individual Rights (CIR) today petitioned