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82011ANNuALRepoRtNAtioNALSeNioRCitizeNSLAwCeNteRNSCLChasalonghistoryofopposingjudicialactivismandkeepingthecourtsopenforjustice.InthattraditiontheFederalRightsProjectcontinuesitsleadingroleinfightingseriousandpotentiallydangerouschallengestothehealthreformlawinthecourts.Fx13dx13ralRx19ghx1asin2011x1ahx13x1drx18jx13cx1anFoughtfortheconstitutionalityoftheAffordableCareActthroughspeakingoutinpublicforumsinblogsandarticlesandinthenationalmedia.PolicyCounselSimonLazarusdebatedotherleadingexpertsontheissueattheBrookingsInstitutionGeorgeMasonUniversityLawSchoolandatforumsinDenverCOandelsewhere.HewroteseveralblogsfortheAmericanConstitutionalSocietyACSandSlateandarticlesfortheNationalLawReviewandOhioStateLawReviewandwasquotedfrequentlyinTheNewRepublicPoliticoTheHillandothernationalnewsmediathroughouttheyear.InadditionNSCLCdraftedandfiledseveralamicusbriefsonthehealthreformlawasthecasesinthestatesworkedtheirwaytotheSupremeCourt.nDefendedtherightofMedicaidbeneficiariestousethecourtstochallengeillegalbenefitcutsinacaseheardbytheSupremeCourtinOctoberDouglasvILC.DirectingAttorneyRochelleBobroffworkedwithattorneyshandlingtheappealandalsoauthoredblogsfortheACSandwasquotedinmediaarticlesonthecasesayingthattheCourtx1ccouldshutcourthousedoorstothepoor.x1dnEnsuredthatastateagencycanbringsuitinFederalcourtinavictoryforthesupremacyoffederallaw.ThecaseinvolvedwhetherastateagencytheVirginiaOfficeforProtectionandAdvocacyVOPAcouldbringsuittocompelstateofficialsinchargeofstate-runmentalhospitalstoreleasemedicalrecordsforaninvestigationintopossibleabuseandneglect.BobroffwasleadauthorandcounselofrecordfortheamicusbriefjoinedbyAARPandothergroups.TheProjectalsofiledanamicusbriefinCompuCreditvGreenwood.TheSupremeCourtwasaskedtooverturna9thCircuitdecisionsupportingtheplaintiffx19srighttosueacreditrepairorganization.Theorganizationarguedthatconsumersonlyhavearighttoarbitrationnottosueandthatthestatutoryrequirementtonotifyconsumersoftheirrighttosuedoesnotnecessarilyconveytheright.Inanotherx1cfriendofthecourtbriefx1dCenterforSpecialNeedsTrustAdministrationvOlsonNSCLCandAARPaskedafederalappealscourttostrikedownSouthDakotax19sMedicaideligibilitychangesonthegroundsthatitsDepartmentofHumanServicesdidnotfollowfederallawthatisdesignedtoprovideopportunitytocommentonproposedchanges.InsteadofissuingregulationstheCentersforMedicareandMedicaidServicesreliedonalettertosetpolicythatexcludedpeopleoverage65frombenefits