Constitutional Accountability Center Constitutional Accountability Center

Access to Justice

Ensuring that the courthouse doors remain open to all Americans
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Jury | Valerie Keinsley / Indiana Humanities, Flickr

Summary

The Constitution guarantees citizens the ability to vindicate their rights in court. CAC fights to protect that right and ensure that all Americans get their day in an impartial court of law.

Access to Justice in Brief

U.S. Supreme Court | Ken Lund, Flickr

In recent years, the Supreme Court has attempted to close courthouse doors to Americans seeking to vindicate their rights. CAC fights this trend by working to protect access to justice for all.

Featured Case

Access to Justice August 22, 2019

Sierra Club and Southern Border Communities Coalition v. Trump; State of California v. Trump

In February 2019, following months of trying to secure funding from Congress to build a wall along the southern border, President Trump declared a “national emergency” and directed that funds Congress appropriated for other purposes be diverted to build the wall. A coalition of states, as well as two nonprofit organizations, the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition, brought suits against the President and executive officials, arguing that this diversion of funds exceeds the President’s authority under the Constitution and federal laws. In April 2019, plaintiffs in both cases filed motions for preliminary injunctions to stop the President...

Case Timeline

Current
  • CAC files an amici curiae brief supporting affirmance of the district court’s permanent injunction
  • The Supreme Court grants a stay (Sierra Club)
  • The Ninth Circuit voted to deny the stay (Sierra Club)