Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org. — CLDEF Amicus Brief

admin Constitutional Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed a brief for CLDEF in support of the effort by Mississippi to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade (1973) and in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992).  We argued that Supreme Court abortion jurisprudence in no way was based on the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, but rather the personal preferences of the justices.  Our brief exposed three major flaws in Roe:  1. Roe relied on misrepresentations about how common law viewed abortion; 2. Roe made flawed assumptions understating the maternal risk from abortion; and 3. Roe erroneously assumed state anti-abortion laws were not written to defend the life of the preborn. Lastly, we urged the Court to end its historical embrace of eugenics.

Link to brief

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org. — Intercessors for America Amicus Brief

admin Constitutional Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed a brief for Intercessors for America in support of the effort by Mississippi to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade (1973) and in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992).  We argued that the Court erred in establishing “viability” as the touchstone for its abortion decisions.  We also explained how Justice Blackmun based his decision on a Pagan foundation.  We cited many Supreme Court sources to demonstrate that the Court increasingly does what it wants to do, regardless of what the Constitution states.  We review how the Court’s jurisprudence in areas such as the Establishment Clause and government schools has established paganism as our nation’s religion.  Lastly, we explain that this Court’s abortion cases have brought bloodguilt upon the land and opened the nation to God’s righteous temporal judgments.

Link to brief

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen — SCOTUS Merits

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a challenge to the virtual ban on concealed carry in New York State.   The brief was filed on behalf of Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, and the Heller Foundation.  We critique the Second Circuit case in Kachalsky v County of Westchester, explain how the New York licensing scheme undermines the prefatory Read More

Young v. Hawaii

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Supreme Court

We filed our second brief in the Young v. Hawaii challenge to Hawaii’s virtual total ban on carrying firearms in the State of Hawaii. Our earlier brief was filed before the Ninth Circuit en banc. This brief was filed in the U.S .Supreme court in support of Young’s Petition for Certiorari. We urge the Court to overturn the two-step test used in many Second Amendment challenges. We also challenge the “longstanding” ban in Hawaii, most of which occurred during the time Hawaii was governed by a Monarchy. We demonstrate why certiorari should be granted even though New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Corlett is pending before the court. And we trace the numerous criticisms by Justices and Judges as to how the lower courts have treated the Second Amendment since Heller and McDonald.

Link to brief

Duncan v. Bonta

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Today, we filed an amicus brief attacking the constitutionality of a
California ban on standard capacity magazines, which the California law
mislabels as “Large Capacity Magazines.” The District Court and Ninth
Circuit panel both ruled for that the laws were unconstitutional, and
the Ninth Circuit granted rehearing en banc. Our brief defends the
decision Read More

Crawford v. Pennsylvania — Defending Gun Rights of Philadelphians

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court

Today, we filed an brief for Gun Owners of America, Inc. and other nonprofits opposing Philadelphia’s challenge to the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s long-standing firearms preemption statute.  That statute prevents Philadelphia from imposing greater firearms restrictions on its residents than those approved by the General Assembly for Pennsylvania as a whole.  Philadelphia bases Read More

VCDL/GOA/GOF v. City of Winchester (Virginia) — Complaint for Declaratory Relief, Application for Temporary and Permanent Injunction, and Petition for Writ of Mandamus

admin Circuit Court for the City of Winchester, Virginia, Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, Litigation

Together with Gilbert Ambler of the Ambler Law Offices, LLC (Winchester, VA) and David Browne of Spiro & Browne, LLC (Richmond, VA), we filed suit challenging a Winchester ordinance regulating possession of firearms.  The case Read More

Testimony given opposing Article V Constitutional Convention in South Carolina

admin Appearances, Constitutional Law

This afternoon, Bill Olson testified via ZOOM before a subcommittee of the South Carolina Judiciary Committee opposing various bills calling for an Article V Convention of the States, also known as a Constitutional Convention.  He also submitted the paper he and Herb Titus wrote exposing the false premises and false assurances of those supporting this radical proposal.

The Paper submitted to the Subcommittee is entitled “The ‘Con-Con’ Con” is available here.

Victory in the Sixth Circuit on Bumpstocks

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

In a 2-1 decision issued today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit gave a victory to Gun Owners of America and Virginia Citizens Defense League in their challenge to the ATF Bumpstock regulations issued December 26, 2018.  The opinion was written by Judge Alice M. Batchelder.  Robert Olson of our firm argued the case in the Sixth Circuit, December 11, 2019.

Link to decision

AFPF/Thomas More Law Center v. Becerra (Free Speech Coalition amicus brief)

admin Constitutional Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed an amicus brief in support of the First Amendment rights of California nonprofit organizations, which are currently being required to file a list of their major donors with the California government.  Our brief, filed on behalf of 21 nonprofit organizations, explains why a Constitutional Republic should never require voluntary associations to reveal the identity of their members Read More

AFPF/Thomas More Law Center v. Becerra (Citizens United amicus brief)

admin Constitutional Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed an amicus brief in support of AFPF’s and Thomas More’s First Amendment challenge to California’s compelled disclosure of information about the major donors of nonprofit organizations.  We explain in our brief why the Ninth Circuit erred in determining that the Supreme Court’s landmark NAACP v. Alabama decision does not apply here.  Second, we Read More

Wade v. Regents of the University of Michigan

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, Michigan Supreme Court

Today our firm filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge to the University of Michigan’s infringement on the Second Amendment rights of its students.  We explain why the university’s ordinance violates the U.S. Constitution, the Michigan Constitution, and various decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, including District of Columbia v. Heller.

Link to brief

Mai v. United States

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today our firm filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to review a Ninth Circuit decision which allowed a ban on gun possession by a man who had suffered a mental health crisis as a minor, but who had since then been found by the State of Washington not to be a danger to himself or to others.  Nevertheless, as the Ninth Circuit has done in every Second Amendment challenge brought before Read More

Caniglia v. Strom

admin Constitutional Law, Firearms Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today our firm filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge to a First Circuit decision which upheld an illegal search and seizure of firearms by police after a Petitioner husband and his wife had a non-violent, non-threatening argument.  Tired of arguing with his wife, the husband threw down an unloaded handgun and said something like “just shoot me.”  The next day the police showed Read More

Our Firm Files Its 25th Amicus Brief in Support of Trump Administration Policies

admin Constitutional Law

Today, our firm filed our 25th amicus brief in support of the positions and policies of President Donald Trump since his inauguration on January 20, 2017.  (On the other hand, when the Trump Administration erroneously banned the possession of bumpstocks, we filed suit to enjoin the ATF rule, in a case still pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.)

Link to index of briefs

Lange v. California

admin Constitutional Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed an amicus brief opposing warrantless home invasions by police officers in pursuit of fleeing misdemeanor suspects.  Both parties asked the court to reject a categorical approach that would allow such searches, but both favored a case-by-case rule that could allow such searches in some cases. To remain consistent with the text, history and tradition of the Fourth Amendment, we argued in favor of a categorical rule against such warrantless home invasions.

Link to brief

Texas v. Pennsylvania

admin Constitutional Law, Election Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed an amicus brief on behalf of Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, and The Presidential Coalition, LLC in support of Texas’ attempt to restore constitutional order to the selection of Presidential Electors. We explain how Texas and other states were harmed by Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin when they allowed the circumvention of election procedures adopted by their state legislatures.

Link to brief

Texas v. Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin — Amicus Brief for U.S. Congressmen

admin Constitutional Law, Election Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today, we filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Texas’ original action against Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin challenging their certification of Presidential Electors.

This brief was filed for U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson and a group of 126 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. In this brief, these Members of the federal legislature seek to protect the constitutional powers of state legislatures to determine the manner of appointing Presidential Electors.

Link to original brief filed by 106 Members of Congress

Link to corrected filed by 126 Members of Congress

Washington Times Op Ed — “State legislatures have absolute authority to select electors”

admin Constitutional Law, Election Law, Publications

The Washington Times published an op ed written by Bill Olson and Pat McSweeney demonstrating the plenary authority of state legislatures to appoint electors.  The piece explains that state certifications of votes are no impediment to a state legislatures power.  And, legislatures may act without the call of the Governor.  It is entitled “State legislatures have absolute authority to select electors.”

Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar

admin Constitutional Law, Election Law, U. S. Supreme Court

Today we filed an amicus brief in support of a petition for certiorari filed by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania seeking to challenge the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court changing Pennsylvania election law at the last minute before the November elections.  We explained that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court usurped the authority of the Pennsylvania state legislature to make these decisions with respect to federal elections, subject only to Congressional action.  We urge the Supreme Court to take the case to invalidate any ballots received after election day.

Link to brief

Paper:  The Constitutional Duty of State Legislatures in a Contested Presidential Election

admin Constitutional Law, Election Law, Publications

Today, Bill Olson and Virginia attorney Pat McSweeney released a paper they co-authored entitled “The Constitutional Duty of State Legislatures in a Contested Presidential Election.”  The paper discusses in depth the provisions of the U.S. Constitution which vest total responsibility and power on state legislatures to select electors.  This power includes the duty to ensure the integrity of a Presidential election, particularly when there is demonstrated fraud, corruption and foreign intrigue.  The Western Journal  published that article here:  Link to article