Cases
The Project on Fair Representation is a public-interest organization committed to the principle that racial and ethnic classifications are unconstitutional, unfair, and harmful. It works to advance race-neutral rules in education, government action, and voting. The Project pursues these goals through education and advocacy and has been involved in several cases before the Court involving these important issues. The Project has a direct interest in this case because it opposes racial gerrymandering of all kinds. Eliminating racial sorting in redistricting…
May 2, 2022
Today, the Project on Fair Representation announces it will provide counsel to Great Northern Resources, Inc. in a challenge to the constitutionality of the State of Oregon's use of strict race-based criteria for grants to businesses and individuals that have been adversely affected by Covid-19. The case is styled Great Northern Resources, Inc. v Coba 3:20-cv-01866-IM. Earlier this year, the Oregon Legislature established a $62 million relief fund from the "Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency Fund" which is only available to individuals and…
October 30, 2020
CVRA violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution (Washington, DC) Today, the Project on Fair Representation announces the filing of a new lawsuit in California federal court challenging the constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The CVRA was passed by the California Legislature in 2001 in an attempt to overrule and circumvent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that limit the use of race and ethnicity in the creation of election districts. The CVRA has recently been utilized by…
June 7, 2018
Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act Filed in Federal Court CVRA violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution (Washington, DC) Today, the Project on Fair Representation announces the filing of a new lawsuit in California federal court challenging the constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The CVRA was passed by the California Legislature in 2001 in an attempt to overrule and circumvent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that limit the use of race and ethnicity…
October 4, 2017
Under Texas law, the Board of Directors of the State Bar must include “four minority member directors appointed by the President of the State Bar.” §81.020(b). The law states that only “female, African-American, Hispanic-American, Native American, or Asian-Americans” will be considered for these four positions. The complaint notes that this law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because there is no justification for imposing a racial, ethnic, or gender quota for board appointments to the Texas State…
December 20, 2016
The Project has a long history of opposing interpretations of the Voting Rights Act that cannot be reconciled with the Constitution or the law’s text. The decision here runs contrary to the principles of race neutrality to which The Project is dedicated and to the American ideal of individual equality to which The Project is profoundly committed. For these reasons, The Project respectfully submits this brief in support of Appellants and urges the Court to reverse the judgment below. POFR…
April 26, 2016
In a case that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number 1 challenged the constitutionality of pre-clearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act. In a unanimous decision, the Court concluded that the district could apply for an exemption. Read the US Supreme Court opinion
January 22, 2015
Abby Fisher sued to prevent the University of Texas from employing racially discriminatory policies and procedures in administering the undergraduate admissions. The admissions policies discriminated against her on the basis of her race in violation of her right to equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and federal civil rights statutes. Read the US Supreme Court opinion (Fisher I) On February 11, 2014, the Project on Fair Representation filed a certiorari petition to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf…
January 22, 2015
Sue Evenwel and Edward Pfenninger, Texas voters, challenged the malapportioned senatorial voting districts enacted by the Texas Legislature on June 23, 2013 and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on June 26, 2013 (“Plan S172”). The lawsuit alleges that Plan S172 is unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and are seeking a court order requiring the Texas Legislature to reapportion state senatorial voting districts in conformity with the Fourteenth Amendment to ensure that all votes in Texas State Senate elections will be weighted equally with…
January 22, 2015
Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit, membership organization whose members include highly qualified students recently denied admission to schools including UNC-Chapel Hill, highly qualified students who plan to apply to schools such as UNC-Chapel Hill, and their parents. The lawsuit alleges that the University is not in compliance with the new Fisher strict scrutiny requirements. Students for Fair Admissions explains in its complaint that UNC has admitted in an amicus brief it submitted to the Supreme Court in the Fisher case that the school can…
January 22, 2015
Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit, membership organization whose members include highly qualified students recently denied admission to schools including Harvard University, highly qualified students who plan to apply to schools such as Harvard University, and their parents. The lawsuit alleges the university is engaging in a campaign of invidious discrimination by strictly limiting the number of Asian Americans it will admit each year and by engaging in racial balancing year after year. These discriminatory policies in college admissions are expressly forbidden…
January 22, 2015
Below are selected lists of amicus briefs filed by the Project on Fair Representation. Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle Schools District No.1 Rick Perry v. Shannon Perez Township of Mt. Holly, NJ v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project
January 21, 2015