Amicus Advocacy
The Amicus Advocacy Project
An amicus brief comes from the Latin term “amicus curiae” which means “friend of the court.” Although most amicus briefs are persuasively written to support one side of a case, they allow interested, third parties the chance to provide the court with information that is relevant and helpful to the case but that may not otherwise be brought to the court’s attention.
CHILD USA files amicus briefing in cases whose outcomes impact the civil rights of children. We have been delighted to work with numerous attorneys across the United States, and welcome partnerships with law firms to work on pro bono matters with us.
If you are an attorney who needs amicus support or would like your firm to have the opportunity to work on cutting edge amicus briefs involving child protection, please contact us at [email protected].
Briefs
Mark Dolgas v. Donald Wales, Tri-Valley Elementary School, Tri-Valley Central School District, and the Board of Education of the Tri-Valley Central School District
CHILD USA wrote this amicus brief in support of Plaintiff-Appellant arguing that considerations of foreseeability and public policy demand a duty be imposed on educational institutions to compel them to act in furtherance of their child protection responsibilities...
JW Doe v. Archdiocese of New Orleans, et. al.
CHILD USA together with CHILD USAdvocacy, The Center for Child Policy, The Kempe Foundation, and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation wrote this brief in support Plaintiff's Motion seeking to unseal the deposition testimony of Lawrence Hecker, a known pedophile...
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA ET AL. v. THE HONORABLE RANDALL WARNER ET AL./ BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA ET AL. v. THE HONORABLE BRADLEY ASTROWSKY
In 2019, the Arizona General Assembly passed the Arizona Child Protection Act that revived sexual abuse claims for 19 months. Defendant in this case challenged, amongst other points, the constitutionality of the revival provision. CHILD USA wrote this amicus brief,...
LILI BERNARD v. WILLIAM COSBY
In 2019, the New Jersey General Assembly passed N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-2b that revived sexual abuse claims for two years. Defendant in this case challenged, amongst other points, the constitutionality of the provision, particularly when it is applied to adult victims...
STEVE SNYDER-HILL, ET AL. v. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY/TIMOTHY MOXLEY, ET AL. v. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
CHILD USA together with organizations dedicated to victims of sexual violence signed onto an Amicus Brief drafted by RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) seeking reversal of the District Court’s decision to dismiss the Title IX claims of 118...
M.H. & J.H. on behalf of their minor child, C.H. v. OMEGLE.COM LLC
CHILD USA, together with sexual violence and victim advocacy organizations and attorneys, filed this brief in support of Plaintiff-Appellant and seeking reversal of the District Court decision granting Defendant, Omegle.com, immunity under Section 230 of the...
GREGORY COHANE v. THE HOME MISSIONERS OF AMERICA d/b/a GLEMARY HOME MISSIONERS, ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, and AL BEHM
CHILD USA filed this brief in support of Plaintiff-Appellant seeking reversal of the Superior Court decision dismissing their negligence claims on the grounds that the SAFE Child Act's revival window provision does not apply to claims against entities. CHILD USA...
Doe v. Arizona Board of Regents, et al.
CHILD USA filed this brief in support of Plaintiff seeking reversal of the lower court's decision dismissing their child sexual abuse claims after concluding that the notice of claim requirements attached to government claims were still required for child sexual abuse...
JA/GG DOE 146 v. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK, et al.,
CHILD USA filed this brief in supporting Plaintiff's Opposition to the Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. The Defendant claims the revival provisions of the New Jersey Child Victims Act are unconstitutional and offend the Defendant's due process rights, as applied. CHILD...
W.S. v. Derek Hildreth, et al.
CHILD USA filed this brief opposing the Defendant's appeal to the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The Defendant claims the New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Act did not excuse the notice of claim requirement for claims against government entities. CHILD USA argues that New...
Savan Desai v. West-Windsor Plainsboro Regional School District
CHILD USA filed this brief supporting the Plaintiff's appeal to the New Jersey Superior Court - Appellate Division. The Defendant claims the New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Act did not excuse the notice of claim requirement for claims against government entities. CHILD...
MCKINNEY v. GARY SCOTT GOINS and THE GASTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
CHILD USA wrote this amicus brief urging the North Carolina Supreme Court to reverse a three-judge panel's decision invalidating the SAFE Child Act's revival window for child sexual abuse claims under the North Carolina State Constitution. In this brief, CHILD USA...