NACC Amicus Curiae Program

NACC has contributed numerous amicus curiae briefs to federal and state appellate courts, pursuing justice for children and families.

NACC promotes the legal interests of children through amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in state and federal appellate courts.

To request NACC’s participation as amicus curiae in a case, please review NACC’s Amicus Curiae Policies and Procedures, then download and complete the NACC Amicus Curiae Request Form.

Amicus Curiae Links

Practitioner Resources

AMICUS CURIAE FILING GUIDE

This guide explains the process to file amicus briefs in state appellate courts. It examines the appropriate roles of amicus curiae, preparation strategies, writing techniques, and summarizes state rules governing amicus practice.

DOWNLOAD GUIDE

SAMPLE AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF

This is a sample amicus brief to use as template or reference for attorneys to write their own amicus brief.

download sample brief

Amicus Curiae Brief Summaries

For over four decades, NACC has advanced justice for children and families in state and federal level amicus briefs.

Amicus Curiae Filing Guide

NACC
- Amicus Brief
- NACC Guidance
Sample Amicus Curiae Brief

NACC/SCOTUS
- Amicus Brief
- NACC Guidance
Alan and Sheryl Sidman v. Michael and Renee Sidman: NACC joined an amicus brief arguing that after an extended guardianship and infrequent parental contact, the burden shifts to the parents to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that termination of the guardianship to which they had consented, would be in the child’s best interests.

NACC, 2010
- Amicus Brief
- Due Process
King and Harvey-Burrow v. Beaufort County Board of Education: NACC joined an amicus brief challenging North Carolina schools’ widespread use of exclusionary disciplinary practices as jeopardizing students’ fundamental right to an education.

NACC, 2009
- Amicus Brief
- Education
People v. Gabriesheski: NACC filed an amicus brief urging the Colorado Supreme Court to find that conversations between a GAL and a child client in dependency proceedings are confidential communications protected by attorney-client privilege.

NACC, 2009
- Amicus Brief
- Due Process
- Right to Counsel
Sullivan and Graham v. Florida: NACC joined an amicus brief requesting that the United States Supreme Court find that life without parole sentences for youth convicted of non-homicide offenses is unconstitutional.

NACC, 2009
- Amicus Brief
- Juvenile Justice
People v. McBride: NACC filed an amicus brief supporting a Michigan father’s right to appointed counsel at a TPR hearing and contending that the failure to do so was structural error.

NACC, 2009
- Amicus Brief
- Due Process
- Right to Counsel
Khaled AF Al Odah v. United States: NACC joined an amicus brief arguing that military commissions convened pursuant to the Military Commission Act lacked jurisdiction over juveniles.

NACC, 2007
- Amicus Brief
- Due Process
- Juvenile Justice
Davis v. Washington and Hammon v. Indiana: NACC filed an amicus brief explaining why the “reasonable person” standard for defining “testimonial” statements under the Confrontation Clause is flawed.

NACC, 2006
- Amicus Brief
- Due Process
Roper v. Simmons: NACC joined several organizations in the filing of an amicus brief, urging the United States Supreme Court to find it unconstitutional to impose the death penalty on youth who were under the age of eighteen at the time of the offense.

NACC, 2004
- Amicus Brief
- Juvenile Justice
Strogner v. California: NACC joined this amicus brief in support of extending California’s statute of limitations for certain child sexual abuse offenses.

NACC, 2003
- Amicus Brief
- Child Abuse Investigations
- Due Process
In the Matter of Ethan, Emily, Tarah, and Titus Bratcher: NACC filed an amicus brief arguing that a parent’s fundamental liberty interest in the custody of their children cannot be lawfully infringed without a judicial finding of unfitness.

NACC, 2010
- Amicus Brief
- Due Process

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