Last week, AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel Robert Muise argued two important cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, both arguments were held on the same day (March 19). You can listen to the arguments in the links provided below.
American Freedom Law Center v. Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General, et al.
The first case involved our lawsuit filed against Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR).
Our lawsuit challenges the Attorney Generalâs and the MDCRâs use of the Southern Poverty Law Centerâs (SPLC) âhate groupâ list to target conservative organizations, including AFLC.
In 2020, the district judge issued a favorable ruling denying the Attorney Generalâs and MDCRâs motions to dismiss our lawsuit on standing grounds.
Yet, after waiting over four years to rule on our cross-motions for summary judgment, the judge dismissed the lawsuit on standing grounds, prompting our appeal.
You can read more about this case here.
You can listen to the oral argument here.
Andrew Hess v. Oakland County, et al.
The second case involved our lawsuit filed on behalf of Andrew Hess. We are defending Hess against the politicized prosecution launched against him by Karen McDonald, the Oakland County Prosecutor who is running to be the Democrat nominee for Michigan Attorney General.
McDonald is pursuing a 20-year felony charge against Hess for making an off-hand political comment in a near-empty lobby outside of the presence of any election official during a contentious election recount held in the county in December 2023.
We filed this federal lawsuit to halt this unlawful prosecution, which was designed to silence individuals who challenge the actions of election officials.
You can read more about this case here.
You can listen to the oral argument here.