SECOND AMENDMENT LAW CENTER AMICUS BRIEF CAMPAIGNS
An amicus curiae brief, or "friend of the court" brief, is a legal brief filed by a person or group who is not a party to a case but has a strong interest in the outcome. The purpose of an amicus brief is to provide the court with additional information or arguments that the court should consider before ruling. Individuals, organizations, or government agencies can file amicus briefs. Amicus briefs can be filed on behalf of any party to a case or can even be filed on behalf of the court itself. Although amicus briefs are not binding on the court, they can be very persuasive if done right. Amicus briefs can be a valuable source of information for the court, and they can help the court to make a more informed decision. Depending on the quality and focus of an amicus brief, it can make the difference between success and failure.
Amicus briefs are typically filed in appellate courts but can also be filed in trial courts. Amicus briefs can be filed at any stage of a case but are most commonly filed when a case is on appeal after the parties have filed their briefs.
Government lawyers defending the constitutionality of a gun control law understand the importance of amicus briefs and routinely get help from multiple amicus briefs filed in their support. These briefs are typically paid for by non-profit groups advocating gun bans and by wealthy individuals like billionaire Michael Bloomberg and the groups he supports.
Often, the parties to a lawsuit cannot get into as much detail as they would like to because of court-imposed page limitations. Well-written amicus briefs can provide analytical depth and breadth to critical legal issues in a case that the parties cannot adequately cover in the principal briefs.
Court rules and other restrictions limit the involvement of lawyers for the parties to a lawsuit in filing amicus briefs or coordinating multiple amicus briefs supporting their side. Generally, the lawyers for the parties in a lawsuit are prohibited from drafting or funding amicus briefs.
That's where the Second Amendment Law Center comes in.
Our experienced legal team has worked to challenge misguided and unconstitutional restrictions on Americans' right to bear arms for decades. They have fought for the right to keep and bear arms in state and federal trial courts, courts of appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. As part of their efforts, attorneys now working with the Second Amendment Law Center have filed many amicus briefs in Second Amendment and other firearms-related lawsuits over the years.
The Second Amendment Law Center coordinates multiple amicus brief campaigns and submits amicus briefs to rebut the arguments raised in the amicus briefs supporting the government and to educate the court about critical legal issues and aspects of a case that the parties may not be able to cover sufficiently in their principal briefs. Our briefs can also provide a unique perspective that may differ from the parties' perspective and give the court additional insight and understanding of the ramifications of a court's ruling in shaping broader public policy. By supplementing and complimenting the party's briefs and highlighting issues the parties may not focus on, Second Amendment Law Center's well-written and coordinated amicus briefs can make the difference between winning and losing a case.
““The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them.””
“Vindictive politicians in anti-gun-owner states continue to pass unconstitutional gun bans as part of their assault on the Second Amendment, and the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision in particular. Dozens of legal challenges to these laws have been filed and are working their way through the courts.
The Second Amendment Law Center’s renowned panel of lawyers and experts are involved in these cases through amicus brief campaigns that support these challenges and maximize the chances of success.”
Chuck Michel, President & Senior Legal Counsel