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Dear John,
If you’ve watched the news cycle in recent weeks, you’ve witnessed how important educational freedom is to parents. In fact, it is so important that it largely influenced the outcome in Virginia’s gubernatorial election.
To meet this critical moment when some parents are fighting for a say in their children’s education, First Liberty is fighting at the Supreme Court for the rights of families to choose the best schools for their children.
In less than a month, our lawyers will be in Washington, D.C. participating in oral argument with our lead counsel at the Institute for Justice in our Maine School Choice case, an opportunity we’ve been granted for such a time as this to stop government from discriminating against religious schools.
Oral argument DEADLINE is Dec. 8th
Help us win at the Supreme Court
The state of Maine is refusing to pay for students’ tuition to religious schools, even though it will pay for students to attend any non-religious school under its school choice program. That’s clear discrimination, unconstitutional and should never happen in America.
Because this is a must-win case, First Liberty is partnering with the Institute for Justice (IJ), a leading law firm in school choice issues. Together, our organizations have spent many hundreds of hours preparing for this important case, as the outcome could have a major impact on religious freedom nationwide, including YOUR right to choose the best school and education for your children.
This is the eleventh hour and we urgently need your support as we prepare for the argument and finish our last brief to the Court. In this final phase, your generous gift can help make sure our legal teams and our arguments are razor-sharp when we go before the justices.
Plus, due to COVID limitations, we can only have two lawyers in the physical court room on our side. This is very different from how oral argument usually take place, making prep work even more stringent and pressurized—which means our legal teams will need to devote significantly more time to fully prepare.
Your donation is critical: Help us prepare for this fast-approaching religious freedom case
Our team will be working intensely over the new few weeks. But even with a great deal of preparation still ahead, here are several reasons we’re hopeful and optimistic about a future victory:
- Positive case precedent: The Court ruled recently against religious discrimination in school choice programs in Espinoza v. Montana (2020). The Espinoza v. Montana case was a huge win for religious freedom and sets the stage well.
- Court composition: A majority of the current Supreme Court justices have shown a commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its original text and intent.
- Religious liberty on a winning streak: In the last seven decades, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of religion 58% of the time. That’s nearly 3 in 5 cases involving religion that had a pro-religious freedom outcome!
We’ve been presented with an incredible opportunity at the Supreme Court to set precedent and change the future. Religious schools across the country will be greatly impacted by this case. Our lawyers have prepared for such a time as this.
YOU have been chosen for such a time as this.
Help secure a victory for religious schools.
With oral argument set for Dec. 8th, time is quickly running out. Now more than ever, we need your generous support so that our legal teams are equipped and ready for this crucial moment.
Will you help support our work as we file the final, important brief to the Court so that we can deliver a victory for religious freedom and school choice in America?
Gratefully,
Kelly
Kelly Shackelford
President, CEO & Chief Counsel
First Liberty Institute
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