Supreme Court Advocacy Hub

Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch.

Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the Supreme Court’s important decisions of the term impacting local governments. The Supreme Court will rule on several monumental cases this term, including on issues related to: 

• Whether the First Amendment allows for exceptions to anti-discrimination ordinances 
• The Independent State Legislature Theory 
• A new test for Waters of the United States
• An important Title VII / employment law case  
• And more  

The LGLC is a coalition of national local government organizations formed in 2023 by the National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC) and International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) to provide education to local governments regarding the Supreme Court and its impact on local governments and local officials and to advocate for local government positions at the Supreme Court in appropriate cases. Visit the Local Government Legal Center to learn more. 

Speakers: 

• Aileen McGrath, Partner at Akin Gump. Drafted an amicus brief on behalf of NLC, NACo, and IMLA in 303 Creative v. Elenis. 
• John Korzen, the Director of Appellate Advocacy Clinic at Wake Forest Law School. Drafted an amicus brief on behalf of NLC, NACo, and IMLA in Moore v. Harper and and NLC and IMLA in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross. 

On May 25, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decisions in two major cases impacting county governments. In Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, a case revolving around the definition of the ‘waters of the United States’ or WOTUS, the Court‘s ruling for the petitioner narrows the scope of what kinds of waters the federal government can regulate under the Clean Water Act. In Tyler v. Hennepin County, the Court held that local governments are not entitled to keep surplus equity from the sale of tax-forfeited properties, a decision that will impact counties in at least 13 states. Join NACo for a membership call unpacking these rulings and their implications for county governments moving forward.

This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in Moore v. Harper, a landmark case asking the court to decide whether state legislatures alone have the authority to oversee federal elections without interference by state judicial or executive branches. Given the significant role that local governments play in overseeing and administering federal, state and local elections, the Moore v. Harper case stands to significantly impact cities and counties. Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National League of Cities (NLC) for an educational webinar with SCOTUSblog’s James Romoser to break down the background of this historic case and its potential ramifications for local elections administration.