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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
Legal Center Opposes Prayers at Carroll Co. (Md.) Board Meetings
The legal center has sent a letter to the Carroll County (Md.) Board of Commissioners objecting to their practice of opening public meetings with unconstitutional sectarian prayers.
letter re Carroll County MD legislative prayers
Legal Center Objects to Prayers at School Board Meetings
The legal center has center a letter to the school board in Lenoir City, Tennessee, objecting to its practice of opening its public meetings with prayers.
letter re Lenoir School Board meeting prayers… continued
Legal Center Confronts Discrimination by Texas Movie Theater
April 24, 2012 – The legal center has sent a letter to the Angelika Film Center in Plano, Texas, objecting to its discrimination against the Dallas-Ft. Worth Coalition of Reason. The theater refused to run … continued
Legal Center Intervenes to Stop Discrimination by Stockton Asparagus Festival
February 22, 2012 – Following the legal center’s intervention, the San Joaquin Valley Coalition of Reason will be able to participate in the Stockton Asparagus Festival alongside other community groups. The festival’s organizers had refused … continued
Court Hears Oral Arguments in AHA’s Mass. Case Against “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance
January 13, 2013 – A judge in Middlesex Superior Court heard oral arguments today in a case brought by the AHA challenging the daily recitation of the “under God” version of the Pledge of Allegiance … continued
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AHLC News
Legal Center Opposes Prayers at Carroll Co. (Md.) Board Meetings
The legal center has sent a letter to the Carroll County (Md.) Board of Commissioners objecting to their practice of opening public meetings with unconstitutional sectarian prayers.
letter re Carroll County MD legislative prayers
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
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
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