Press Releases

Supreme Court to review Violence Against Women Act

Constitutional limits on federal power at stake

Washington, D.C.- The Supreme Court agreed today to review the constitutionality of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). A key provision of the act was struck down by a federal appeals court in March. The Supreme Court’s decision in this case, Brzonkala v.

Settlement reached in pupil assignment case

Washington, D.C. – On July 13, 1999, the St. Paul, MN school district agreed to settle CIR’s case challenging a racial set-aside in student assignments to its acclaimed Capitol Hill Magnet school. At issue was a school district policy that left available classroom seats unfilled in order to achieve the

New York’s highest court to hear Maas sexual harassment case (5-23-99)

Was famous Cornell professor a harasser or the victim of a witch hunt?

Washington, D.C.- The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, agreed today to hear an appeal from Cornell University psychology professor James Maas, the nationally known researcher and filmmaker accused of sexual harassment by former students.

CIR fights racial set-asides in St. Paul school

Washington, D.C. – The Center for Individual Rights filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, April 6 challenging racial preferences in student assignments to the acclaimed St. Paul, MN Capitol Hill Magnet school. At issue is a school district policy that leaves available classroom seats unfilled in order to achieve the district’s

HUD officials ruled personally liable in free speech case

Washington, D.C. – In a decision that significantly reinforces First Amendment protections for citizens who challenge government actions, U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled on Friday (December 18) that HUD officials are liable in their personal capacity for investigating three Berkeley area residents who opposed the location of

CIR files second lawsuit against University of Michigan

Washinton, D.C. – The Center for Individual Rights filed a class action lawsuit today against the University of Michigan Law School seeking to have that school’s admissions policies declared unconstitutional. Today’s lawsuit follows an earlier lawsuit filed against the University of Michigan undergraduate College of Literature, Sciences and the Arts.

CIR

CIR sues to end use of racial preferences by University of Michigan

Washington, D.C. – The Center for Individual Rights filed a class action lawsuit today against the University of Michigan seeking to have its admissions policies declared unconstitutional. Along with co-counsel David F. Herr and Kirk Kolbo of the Minneapolis firm of Maslon, Edelman, Borman & Brand LLP, CIR is representing

University of Washington sued for discrimination

Law School accused of using illegal racial preferences in admissions

Washington, D.C. – Katuria Smith, assisted by the Washington, D.C. based Center for Individual Rights (CIR), filed a lawsuit late yesterday claiming that the University of Washington School of Law (UWSL) discriminated against her on the basis of her race (white)

Texas A&M and federal agencies sued for running segregated summer program

Washington, D.C.- The Center for Individual Rights (CIR) sued Texas A&M and the National Institutes for Health (NIH) this week for operated a segregated summer science program. CIR filed its lawsuit on behalf of “Michelle Doe,” a sixteen year-old white high school student who was denied access to a science