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About the AHLC
Despite the Humanist movement’s long history of using the courts to stand up for our rights, no Humanist group has ever had more than a handful of lawyers assisting with the process. To address this, and to ensure that our constitutional rights are represented in court, the American Humanist Association launched the Appignani Humanist Legal Center (AHLC) in 2006. Through amicus activity, litigation, and other legal advocacy, our team of cooperating lawyers, including Humanist luminaries such as Jim McCollum, Wendy Kaminer, and Michael Newdow, provides legal assistance to defend the constitutional rights of religious and secular minorities by directly challenging clear violations of the Establishment Clause and seeking equal rights for humanists, atheists and other freethinkers.
Join Our Team
The Appignani Humanist Legal Center is always looking for qualified Humanist-minded attorneys to join our legal team in the fight to defend the separation of church and state and equal rights for humanists, atheists, and other freethinkers.
If you would like to join our list of cooperating pro-bono attorneys and lend whatever support you can to our cause, please contact us. We also welcome inquiries from law students who would like to apply for an internship with the legal center.
Report a Violation
If you have encountered a violation of the separation of church and state or discrimination against humanists, atheists, or other freethinkers please contact us!
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AHLC Legal Activity
Letter Regarding Pendleton Cross
The legal center has sent a letter to Camp Pendleton objecting to the recent erection of large Christian cross on a hill on base:
“Within this general legal framework requiring that the government remain secular … continued
Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church v. EEOC
The Appignani Humanist Legal Center is disappointed in today’s ruling in Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC, which gives religious employers the right violate laws against employment discrimination:
“The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination … continued
The Appignani Humanist Legal Center has filed suit in Little Rock on behalf of the United Coalition of Reason against the Central Arkansas Transit Authority for refusing to run UnitedCoR’s bus ads:
“The Defendants’ joint … continued
UnitedCoR v. CATA Press Release
Humanists Denied Advertising Space, File First Amendment Suit
(Washington D.C., June 1, 2011) Today the Appignani Humanist Legal Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of the United Coalition of Reason (UnitedCoR) in response to an … continued
Legal Center Wins Injunction in Free Speech Case
The legal center won a victory in federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, in a suit it brought in June 2011 against the Central Arkansas Transit Authority 0n behalf of the United Coalition of Reason. … continued
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AHLC News
Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church v. EEOC
The Appignani Humanist Legal Center is disappointed in today’s ruling in Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC, which gives religious employers the right violate laws against employment discrimination:
“The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination … continued
Godless Bus Ads Now in Little Rock after Court Ruling
The United Coalition of Reason’s bus ads are finally up in Arkansas following our victory in federal court in Little Rock:
“Originally, Central Arkansas Coalition of Reason (CoR) had wanted its ads to run during … continued
Suit Claims Philosophy Course Was Unconstitutional Instruction In Christian Apologetics
AHA has assisted the plaintiff in this case to bring suit against an Arizona community college professor who substituted a series of lectures on her particular Christian morality for the introductory survey philosophy class she … continued
(Washington, D.C., August 8, 2011) “The Appignani Humanist Legal Center has filed an amicus curiae briefon behalf of the American Humanist Association and other allied organizations with the Supreme Court of the United States. The … continued
Arizona School Tuition Organization v. Winn
The Supreme Court has ruled in the Arizona School Tuition Organization v. Winn case, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring a suit:
“For the reasons discussed below, respondents cannot take advantage of Flast’s … continued