Advocates for Faith & Freedom, a leading advocate for the protection of religious liberty and constitutional freedoms, today announced the filing of its important brief with the United States Supreme Court in the case Miller v. McDonald. The brief urges the Supreme Court to protect the fundamental right to religious liberty and reinstate it as the cornerstone of the First Amendment.
PRESS RELEASE | ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM FILES BRIEF BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT TO REINSTATE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FROM MANDATORY VACCINATION
Advocates for Faith & Freedom, a leading advocate for the protection of religious liberty and constitutional freedoms, today announced the filing of its important brief with the United States Supreme Court in the case Miller v. McDonald. The brief urges the Supreme Court to protect the fundamental right to religious liberty and reinstate it as the cornerstone of the First Amendment.
Press Release | Santa Clara County Employees Sue County for Failing to Accommodate Their Religious Beliefs
Advocates for Faith and Freedom in conjunction with Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz have filed suit in the Northern District of California on behalf of 33 current and former Santa Clara County employees against Santa Clara County for failing to accommodate their religious beliefs. Plaintiffs allege religious discrimination in violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the Constitution, Title VII, and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Press Release | Advocates for Faith & Freedom Files Notice of Appeal to Vindicate Students’ Freedom of Speech
Today, Advocates for Faith & Freedom filed a formal notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Nielsen v. Ann Arbor Public Schools. The appeal challenges policies and actions of the Ann Arbor Public Schools and its employees that led to rejecting a student announcement of the Skyline Republican Club on the basis that it was political. Meanwhile, the school allowed other student clubs to use its public address system for student announcements advertising a voter guide and facilitated a political walk-out on school grounds—both promoting the opposing political viewpoint on the same issue.
Press Release | Advocates for Faith & Freedom Files U.S. Supreme Court Amicus Brief Defending Parental Rights
Advocates for Faith & Freedom, in partnership with NC Values Institute, filed an amicus brief this week in the United States Supreme Court in support of the petitioners in Foote v. Ludlow School Committee, urging the Court to reverse a decision by the First Circuit Court of Appeals that undermines fundamental parental rights.
Two Dangerous Bills, One Clear Mission: Protect Our Families
California’s Legislature is pushing two of the most dangerous bills we have seen in years, bills that, if passed, will radically undermine parental rights and rob families of educational freedom. These proposals are not simply misguided policy ideas. They are calculated moves to place more power in the hands of the state and less in the hands of parents.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom Challenges California’s Ban on Religious Vaccine Exemptions in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Murrieta, CA—On Friday, August 8, 2025, Advocates for Faith and Freedom filed its opening brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of four California moms and their families fighting to restore religious exemptions to the state’s vaccination law. Since 1961, California had allowed exemptions for personal beliefs—including religious objections. But in 2016, the State nixed all personal belief exemptions, which they knew to also include any and all religious exemptions. The State’s vaccine law, SB 277, still allows exemptions for secular reasons though. The State allows students with a medical exemption, students who are over 18-years-old, students with IEPs (individualized education plans), students with certain social statuses like homelessness, military families, and in foster care, and students transferring schools to be exempt or to enjoy periods of exemption from the law’s requirements. Yet even though the State allows numerous secular exemptions, it refused to allow a religious exemption to the small number of families who seek to exempt their children based on religious reasons. Religious families who object to the vaccines required under SB 277 have to choose: follow their sincerely held religious beliefs or forego admissibility to all private and public schools for their children in the State of California.
“Advocates for Faith & Freedom’s brief highlights what is an important point of fairness but also an important principle of constitutional law: before the State is allowed to ban schoolchildren from all public and private schools in California, it must demonstrate that doing so is necessary. It is hard to prove necessity to single out religious exemptions for extinction, however, when the State allows so many secular exemptions which seemingly pose the same harm.” said Erin Mersino, Vice President of Advocates for Faith and Freedom.
“Our First Amendment liberties must be protected with vigilance,” added Robert Tyler, President and Chief Counsel of Advocates for Faith & Freedom. “We are honored to take this fight to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of our courageous clients.”
Advocates for Faith & Freedom’s Opening Brief is available here:
Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.
Equipping Parents and Teachers to Stand Strong and Resist the Culture’s Agenda
Across America, parents, teachers, and concerned citizens are facing relentless pressure as radical cultural agendas invade classrooms and erode the values that built this nation. Yet there is a renewed sense of hope as we see a growing movement and a federal administration that is once again championing family values and opening doors for real change. At Advocates for Faith & Freedom, we are seizing this moment to push back even harder, equipping you with the tools, legal support, and encouragement you need to stand firm in truth and defend the rights that God has entrusted to you. This month, we are spotlighting a powerful resource for parents and announcing a critical opportunity for educators and allies to gather, prepare, and push back.
Press Release | Christian Monk Jailed for Praying: Supreme Court Asked to Stop Nationwide Gag Order on Pro-Life Speech
Today, Advocates for Faith & Freedom and the American Freedom Law Center filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Mr. Matthew Connolly, a Christian monk and peaceful pro-life advocate who was convicted and sentenced to jail. His only alleged offense: quietly kneeling in prayer in a public area near an abortion facility.
Press Release | U.S. Supreme Court Delivers Landmark Victory for Parental Rights and Religious Freedom in Public Schools Advocates for Faith & Freedom Releases Free Opt-Out Tool for Parents
In a groundbreaking decision issued today in Mahmoud v. Taylor, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that parents have a constitutional right to receive advance notice and to opt their children out of exposure to LGBTQ+ themed books and curriculum. Advocates for Faith & Freedom applauds the Court’s protection of religious liberty, the family, and children.