State and Local Legal Center Newsletter
Issue: 1February/2014
In This Issue
Briefs Recently Filed
Briefs in the Works
NLJ Article about the SLLC
Mid-Term Review Articles
 
30 Year Anniversary Reception and Supreme Court Practice Seminar

Come and celebrate 30 years and over 300 briefs at Jones Day on March 4 beginning at 6PM.  Register here.

During the day, the SLLC, IMLA, and Georgetown University Law Center's Supreme Court Institute will co-host a Supreme Court Practice Seminar at Georgetown University Law Center.

The Seminar will cover all aspects of litigating a case before the Supreme Court. Speakers include, among others, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, Jr., and SCOTUSblog's Tom Goldstein.  View the program here.  Register here.

Members
National Governors Association
National Conference of State Legislatures
Council of State Governments
National League of Cities
National Association of Counties
International City/County Management Association
United States Conference of Mayors

Associate Members
International Municipal Lawyers Association
Government Finance Officers Association

The Supreme Court has finished accepting cases for the current term. The SLLC will file seven amicus briefs this term.

 

Register for the SLLC 30 year anniversary reception here and the Supreme Court Practice Seminar here. Details in the sidebar. 

Amicus Briefs Recently Filed
 

Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp v. Sebelius

Whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act applies to for-profit, closely held secular corporations

Wood v. Moss

Whether moving anti-Bush protesters about one block further from the President than pro-Bush demonstrators violates the First Amendment.  Whether the lower court evaluated the qualified immunity claim at too high a level of generality.

Plumhoff v. Rickard

Whether police are entitled to qualified immunity for the use of deadly force in a high speed chase

Martin M. Brandt Revocable Trust v. United States 

Who owns an abandoned railroad right-of-way granted by the General Railroad Right of Way Act of 1875
 
The Justices discussed the SLLC's brief at oral argument

 

McCullen v. Coakley

Whether a state law prohibiting speech within 35-feet of a reproductive health care facility violates the First Amendment

Sprint Communications Company v. Jacobs

Younger abstention only applies in three "exceptional circumstances"

Amicus Briefs in the Works
                   
              

Whether a public employee's subpoenaed testimony is protected by the First Amendment

National Law Journal Article about the SLLC

Center Advocates for State and Local Governments discusses the SLLC's mission, history, current amicus activity, and the Supreme Court Practice Seminar and 30-year anniversary reception

Mid-Term Review Articles

Read about the most significant cases of the term affecting state and local government