Public Rights Project

It's been almost a month since the Supreme Court's devastating ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. We're seeing the wide-reaching effects of this decision play out across the country. And it's important that we don't stop talking about it. Earlier this week, our founder and CEO Jill Habig joined WCPT820 to discuss the threats election officials face, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, and the ways communities are fighting back. 📻 You can listen to the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/edQvCsvS

"Federal judges handed the Department of Justice (DOJ) a pair of losses in their nationwide quest for unfettered access to state voter registration rolls, ruling the federal government had no right to demand records from Maine and Wisconsin.* Thursday’s dismissals bring the DOJ’s record to 0-8 out of 31 lawsuits brought against states and Washington, D.C."

What could YOU gain from the Affirmative Leaders Fellowship? ✔️ The skills to build an affirmative litigation practice ✔️ The confidence to lead complex, high-impact work ✔️ A national network of attorneys facing the same challenges Because when federal overreach challenges local authority, this work can’t happen in isolation. One fellow put it simply: having a network to turn to changed everything. Public Rights Project’s Affirmative Leaders Fellowship is designed to make sure you don’t have to do this work alone. Apply by May 29 to receive a $950 early bird discount. Final deadline: June 11. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/egq2vEuC

A Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Barbara is expected soon, and the consequences could ripple across nearly every aspect of public life. If the Trump administration’s executive order goes into effect, birth certificates alone may no longer be enough to prove citizenship – creating new hurdles when applying for passports, getting a driver’s license, accessing public benefits, or even proving you belong in the country where you were born. And the impacts would not stop there. Programs like SNAP, CHIP, and Medicaid require proof of citizenship. If birth certificates are no longer accepted as clear proof, families will have a much harder time accessing the services they rely on. This administration is so desperate to control who gets to be an American that they’re disregarding the widespread havoc this will cause everyone. No president has the power to rewrite the Constitution or strip citizenship by executive order. A decision is coming soon. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etsTcpiY Read

"The Supreme Court recast the redistricting fight with its ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. That decision all but nullified a provision of the federal Voting Rights Act that required states to draw electoral maps to give racial minority voters the opportunity to elect their chosen candidates. The latest redistricting efforts are changing elections that have already begun." Our Election Protect Hub is monitoring the wide-reaching effects of this decision on upcoming elections and redistricting efforts. If you're a local election official looking for support, please reach out to us: elections@publicrightsproject.org

Arguments took place this week in United States v. Benson — a case where the Department of Justice is seeking #Michigan's election records. The case is important to watch because it'll likely be the first appeals court to determine whether the DOJ may access sensitive voter data maintained by states. We filed an amicus brief in this case and a similar one in California, urging the court to uphold a lower court's decision blocking the DOJ from collecting election records. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ejtTBUaU

BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows #mifepristone to remain available by mail and telehealth nationwide. The decision ensures that medication abortion will remain available and accessible throughout the country while the Fifth Circuit decides the merits of the case. Abortion is health care and a human right. And the work to protect reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy continues.

Today, we urged a district court to dismiss a federal lawsuit that tries to force #Boston to use city officials and resources in the Trump administration's immigration agenda. The Constitution is clear: The federal government can’t force cities to use local taxpayer dollars on federal priorities. Boston’s Trust Act ensures local resources go to public safety, specifically criminal law enforcement, not civil immigration enforcement. Constitutional limits on federal power and local authority are at stake. Representing Boston in the case alongside city attorneys, we have also filed amicus briefs in half a dozen similar cases where cities are facing unprecedented federal overreach. “Federal law doesn’t require cities to take part in civil immigration enforcement,” said Jill Habig, founder and CEO of Public Rights Project. “This abuse of power is a threat to both local authority and public safety. We’re proud to stand with Boston in defending its right to choose what’s best for the community.” Local governments like Boston are working every day to build safer communities, strengthen trust between residents and law enforcement, and ensure their limited resources go toward local priorities.

Our Affirmative Leaders Fellowship isn’t just about learning new skills — it’s about changing how you lead. For 2025 Fellow Zenia Wilson Laws, that meant transforming how she approaches her work — and using those skills both inside and outside her government office. “The project management skills I gained were truly invaluable. It transformed my work as an attorney and gave me the tools to bring new ideas to life.” This is what ALF is designed to do: equip government attorneys with the tools, strategy, and network they need to lead. Learn more and apply: https://ow.ly/eiio50YZ1Vo

"The Supreme Court is leaving women’s access to a widely used #abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect." The amicus brief we filed last week urges #SCOTUS to block or overturn the lower court’s ruling and preserve access to the medication through mailing and pharmacy visits. We argue that the Fifth Circuit improperly overrode the policy choices of elected officials and communities that have chosen to protect abortion access. Learn more about the case: https://lnkd.in/eqnKaGhb