Federal Rights

Keeping the courts open for justice is an important way to ensure justice not only for low-income older adults and other vulnerable populations, but for everyone. The Federal Rights Project works to preserve the ability of courts and Congress to protect the health, security and civil rights of individuals under federal law.

The Project:

• Provides strategic analyses of legal and legislative developments, training, and assistance to litigators, policy advocates, and public officials;
• Advocates before courts, agencies, and legislative bodies
• Promotes awareness of the importance of courts to commit to robust statutory and constitutional rights; and
• Provides a network of advocates nationwide with a forum and important commentary on  recent case developments. Find information about the Federal Rights Listserv and how to subscribe. Read recent and past case analyses.

Key objectives for CY2011 are:

1. Support the Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act through advocacy, creative use of media and public forums, and through the submission of amicus curiae briefs in collaboration with other leading advocacy groups. Visit Health Reform Challenges.

2. To use litigation and advocacy to ensure access to the courts to remedy wrongs and to prevent the undermining of federal law. Visit Litigation.

3. Inform advocates, media, Congress, policymakers, and public officials  ongoing challenges to federal rights and court access. Visit Articles and In the News.

2010 Accomplishments

• Defended Health Reform — Staff prepared amicus curiae and was frequently called on in the media and by policymakers to defend the legality of the Affordable Care Act.
• Ensured Access to the Courts — The project continued its efforts to ensure U.S. citizens have access to the courts to remedy wrongs, filing amicus curiae in significant Supreme Court cases.

Read more about the Project in our annual report.