No. 25-1002
Rajeh A. Saadeh v. New Jersey State Bar Association
Tags: antidiscrimination-law constitutional-rights diversity-programs equal-protection first-amendment free-speech-clause
Latest Conference:
N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)
A bar association reserves leadership positions for members of specific minority groups. These set-asides violate the State's antidiscrimination law. But below, the court deemed this otherwise illegal discrimination protected by the First Amendment because the setasides help "express " the bar association's commitment to "diversity." The question presented is:
Whether the First Amendment overrides antidiscrimination laws when the discrimination furthers the defendant's views about "diversity, " "equity," or "inclusion."
Question Presented (AI Summary)
Whether the First Amendment overrides antidiscrimination laws when discrimination furthers the defendant's views about diversity, equity, or inclusion
Docket Entries
2026-03-25
Amicus brief of State of West Virginia and 17 Other States submitted.
2026-03-24
Brief amicus curiae of Manhattan Institute filed.
2026-03-24
Amicus brief of Manhattan Institute submitted.
2026-03-23
Response Requested. (Due April 22, 2026)
2026-03-23
Brief amicus curiae of America First Legal Foundation filed.
2026-03-23
Amicus brief of America First Legal Foundation submitted.
2026-03-23
Amicus brief of State of West Virginia and 17 Other States submitted.
2026-03-17
Brief amici curiae of Students for Fair Admissions, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2026-03-17
Amicus brief of Students for Fair Admissions, American Alliance for Equal Rights, and Do No Harm submitted.
2026-03-17
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/2/2026.
2026-03-15
Waiver of NJ State Bar Assn. of right to respond submitted.
2026-03-13
Waiver of right of respondent NJ State Bar Assn. to respond filed.
2026-02-13
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 26, 2026)
2026-01-09
Application (25A626) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until February 16, 2026.
2026-01-06
Application (25A626) to extend further the time from January 17, 2026 to February 16, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.
2025-12-01
Application (25A626) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until January 17, 2026.
2025-11-24
Application (25A626) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 18, 2025 to January 20, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.
Attorneys
America First Legal Foundation
Manhattan Institute
Ilya Shapiro — Manhattan Institute, Amicus
NJ State Bar Assn.
Lawrence S. Lustberg — FBT Gibbons LLP, Respondent
Rajeh A. Saadeh
Cameron Thomas Norris — Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
State of West Virginia and 17 Other States
Students for Fair Admissions, American Alliance for Equal Rights, and Do No Harm
Christopher E. Mills — Spero Law LLC, Amicus