Fulfilling the progressive promise of the Constitution’s text and history
CAC is working in the courts, with elected leaders, and with legal scholars to preserve the rights and freedoms of all Americans, and to protect the integrity of our judiciary.
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Our Latest Work
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
League of Conservation Voters v. Trump
In League of Conservation Voters v. Trump, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is considering whether President Trump may lawfully rescind certain measures put in place by President Obama to protect Alaskan...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Velasco Lopez v. Decker
In Velasco Lopez v. Decker, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is considering whether the government may incarcerate someone without bail during deportation proceedings without showing that the person would likely abscond or...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
CASA de Maryland, Inc. v. Trump
In CASA de Maryland, Inc. v. Trump, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is considering the legality of a Trump Administration rule redefining the term “public charge” for purposes of excluding immigrants...
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Pitch v. United States
In Pitch v. United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is considering whether courts have inherent authority to release historically significant grand jury materials.
March 23, 2020
RELEASE: CAC Reacts to Court’s Discrimination Ruling
“Racial discrimination can infect the contract formation process, and that isn’t altered simply because those...
March 23, 2020
RELEASE: Reaction to Court’s Ruling in Allen v. Cooper
WASHINGTON – On news this morning of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Allen v. Cooper,...
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Issues We Work On
CAC's work addresses many of the most important topics in modern constitutional and federal law.
Our Latest Cases
Great Hall of the Supreme Court of the United States | Phil Roeder, Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
CAC pursues a litigation strategy unique among progressive legal organizations by relying on the Constitution’s text and history. Our powerful amicus briefs provide invaluable arguments to Supreme Court Justices, legal scholars, and fellow advocates. Our clients include current and former bipartisan Members of Congress, state and local officials, law professors, and various nonprofit organizations. CAC’s efforts help to secure important legal victories in the Supreme Court, lower federal courts, and state supreme courts.
League of Conservation Voters v. Trump
In League of Conservation Voters v. Trump, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is considering whether President Trump may lawfully rescind certain measures put in place by…Read MoreVelasco Lopez v. Decker
In Velasco Lopez v. Decker, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is considering whether the government may incarcerate someone without bail during deportation proceedings without showing that the…Read MoreCASA de Maryland, Inc. v. Trump
In CASA de Maryland, Inc. v. Trump, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is considering the legality of a Trump Administration rule redefining the term “public charge”…Read More
From Our Think Tank
ISSUE BRIEF: To Save and Not to Destroy: Severability, Judicial Restraint, and the Affordable Care Act
When a statute is partially unconstitutional, courts must endeavor to save, not destroy, the rest of the law. This is the core command of severability doctrine, a firmly established tenet…Read MoreISSUE BRIEF: The Historical and Legal Basis for the Exercise of Congressional Oversight Authority
With the recent change in leadership of the House of Representatives following the 2018 midterm elections, there has been considerable discussion about what role the 116th Congress will play in…Read MoreISSUE BRIEF: Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh: Will He Respect The Whole Constitution?
In announcing Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, President Trump billed him as a jurist who will enforce the Constitution as written. Luminaries of the conservative legal movement…Read More
The result of the Fifteenth Amendment | Library of Congress (Public Domain)
CAC produces scholarship showing that the Constitution’s text and history command progressive results. We publish comprehensive accounts of some of the most important and contentious topics in modern constitutional and federal law through issue briefs, white papers, insights, and our think tank series. Our legal experts also inform public discussion around these topics by giving written and oral testimony in congressional committee hearings.