Press Releases

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

Center for Individual Rights Sues Univ. of Connecticut

Suit Maintains Minority Student Denied Access to Merit Scholarship

 Storrs, CT, June 3, 2014—The Center for Individual Rights (CIR) today filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of Pamela Swanigan, a graduate student in English at the University of Connecticut.

The suit alleges

Union dues case moves forward

District court renders judgment on pleadings

Statement by Terry Pell, President, Center for Individual Rights, in response to today’s U.S. District Court Decision on the Motion on the Pleadings in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association

“The Center for Individual Rights is pleased that United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton has denied

CIR Challenges New York Campaign Limits

Empire State campaign finance laws violate constitution

Washington, D.C.— With a month to go before New York City’s mayoral election, the Center for Individual Rights (CIR), co-counsel in the New York Progress and Protection PAC’s (“NYPPP”) recent suit challenging New York’s campaign finance law, today blasted the New York State Board

CIR asks court to enjoin union dues collection

Motion filed in case to protect teachers’ First Amendment Rights

Los Angeles, California, June 25, 2013-The Center for Individual Rights (CIR), together with lead counsel Michael Carvin of Jones Day, today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, CIR’s case challenging the constitutionality of California’s “closed