Pacific Legal Foundation

Pacific Legal Foundation is a non-profit public interest legal organization devoted to litigation primarily in the areas of property rights, environmental law, and individual rights.

Established March 5, 1973, [Zumbrun, Ronald A. (2004). “Life, Liberty, and Property Rights,” in "Bringing Justice to the People: The Story of the Freedom-Based Public Interest Law Movement" (Lee Edwards, ed.). Washington, DC: Heritage Books, ISBN 0974366528, p.41.] PLF is the oldest conservative/libertarian public interest law foundation in the United States, with the mission of providing free legal representation and filing friend of the court (amicus curiae) briefs focusing on regulatory takings, eminent domain, affirmative action, California's Proposition 209, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and other important legal matters.

Legal Program

Property Rights

PLF's property rights cases have focused on regulatory takings. The Foundation's attorneys have successfully argued three takings cases at the United States Supreme Court: "Nollan v. California Coastal Commission", "Suitum v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency", and "Palazzolo v. Rhode Island".

Environmental Law

PLF's environmental law litigation has frequently involved challenges to federal regulation of private property under the Clean Water Act or the Endangered Species Act. For example, PLF attorneys represented a Minnesota property owner who was denied the right to build on his property in "Contoski v. Scarlett", [Not Reported in F.Supp.2d, 2006 WL 2331180 (D.Minn.), 63 ERC 1892, No. 05-2528, Aug. 10, 2006.] a case that resulted in the removal of the bald eagle from the endagered species list.

Individual Rights

PLF has participated in cases challenging government-sponsored race and sex preferences, both under the federal Constitution's Equal Protection Clause and state constitutional provisions such as California's Proposition 209 and Washington's I 200. Under its "Free Enterprise Project," PLF argues that certain licensing laws and similar regulations violate the individual right to earn a living and result in a loss of jobs and a lower standard of living for Americans.

Locations

PLF has four offices located across the United States. The National Litigation Center, PLF's main office, is located in Sacramento, California. The Pacific Northwest Center is located in Bellevue, Washington. The Atlantic Center is located in Stuart, Florida. The Hawaii Center is located in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Cases

PLF has been involved in many important cases before the United States Supreme Court and other courts. PLF’s Supreme Court victories include "Nollan v. California Coastal Commission" (1987), [ [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=483&invol=825 FindLaw for Legal Professionals - Case Law, Federal and State Resources, Forms, and Code ] ] "Keller v. State Bar of California" (1990), [ [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=496&invol=1 FindLaw | Cases and Codes ] ] "Suitum v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency" (1997), [ [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=search&court=US&case=/us/520/725.html FindLaw for Legal Professionals - Case Law, Federal and State Resources, Forms, and Code ] ] "Palazzolo v. Rhode Island" (2001), [ [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=000&invol=99-2047 FindLaw for Legal Professionals - Case Law, Federal and State Resources, Forms, and Code ] ] , and "Rapanos v. United States" (2006) [ [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=04-1034 FindLaw for Legal Professionals - Case Law, Federal and State Resources, Forms, and Code ] ] PLF also won a significant victory in the California Supreme Court case, "Hi-Voltage Wire Works v. San Jose" (2000), [24 Cal.4th 537, 12 P.3d 1068, 101 Cal.Rptr.2d 653, No. S080318, Nov. 30, 2000.] upholding the constitutionality of Proposition 209.

Programs

Program for Judicial Awareness

PLF's Program for Judicial Awareness facilitates the publication of scholarly articles in legal-academic journals, operates an annual essay competition for law students, and awards grants for faculty research leading to the publication of important legal scholarship.

College of Public Interest Law

Since 1979, PLF has offered College of Public Interest Law (CPIL) fellowships to recent law school graduates who want hands-on experience in who wish to pursue public interest litigation.

References

External links

* [http://community.pacificlegal.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=183&srcid=-2] Pacific Legal Foundation's website.