No. 25-1002

Rajeh A. Saadeh v. New Jersey State Bar Association

Lower Court: New Jersey
Docketed: 2026-02-24
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Amici (3)Response RequestedResponse Waived Experienced Counsel
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
Gene Patrick HamiltonAmerica First Legal Foundation, Amicus
Manhattan Institute
Ilya ShapiroManhattan Institute, Amicus
NJ State Bar Assn.
Lawrence S. LustbergFBT Gibbons LLP, Respondent
Rajeh A. Saadeh
Cameron Thomas NorrisConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner
State of West Virginia and 17 Other States
Michael Ray WilliamsOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
Students for Fair Admissions, American Alliance for Equal Rights, and Do No Harm
Christopher E. MillsSpero Law LLC, Amicus