Active Cases

Since 1966, CCR has pioneered daring and innovative legal strategies in pursuit of its mission to advance and protect the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our work began on behalf of civil rights activists, and since then CCR has lent its expertise and support to virtually every popular progressive movement.

Our current cases reflects our unwavering commitment to progressive principles, people’s movements and human rights as well as our creative use of the law as a positive force for social change.

The Descendants Project v. St. John the Baptist Parish

On November 9, 2021, on behalf of The Descendants Project, an organization founded to advocate for descendants of people once enslaved in Louisiana’s river parishes, the Center for Constitutional...
Updated: April 2, 2025

Black Love Resists in the Rust v. City of Buffalo

In the summer of 2012, the Buffalo Police Department created a "Strike Force" Unit to aggressively patrol and conduct vehicle checkpoints in "high crime" areas of the city. While purportedly set up...
Updated: November 15, 2024

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Derek Lee

This case aims to end the state of Pennsylvania’s mandatory imposition of death-by-incarceration sentences, otherwise known as life without parole, for Derek Lee and others convicted of felony murder...
Updated: October 7, 2024

Austin Sanctuary Network v. Mayorkas

Leaders of the National Sanctuary Collective and allied organizations filed a challenge ICE’s practice of issuing exorbitant civil fines against people who have taken sanctuary in houses of worship,...
Updated: June 22, 2023

Houser v. Blank

In 2010, the U.S. Bureau of the Census hired over a million temporary employees to conduct census surveys and serve in clerical positions. The Bureau ran the names of all applicants through the FBI...
Updated: April 20, 2016

United States v. Jackson

For decades, residents of Jackson, Mississippi, have experienced threats to their health and wellbeing from an outdated, failing public water system. For the past three years, this predominantly...
Updated: May 16, 2025

Aref v. Garland

A due process challenge to the Communications Management Units (CMUs), two highly restrictive federal prison units that segregate certain prisoners and severely limit and control their communication...
Updated: March 1, 2022

Bellant v. Snyder (Phillips v. Snyder)

Federal lawsuit challenging constitutionality of state-appointed “Emergency Managers” in predominantly black and brown communities of Michigan
Updated: July 25, 2018

United States v. Johnson

A federal prosecution, under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, of two animal rights activists for allegedly liberating animals from fur farms.
Updated: November 8, 2017

State v. Henry / State v. Allen (Jim Crow Juries)

Rufus Henry and Matthew Allen were both convicted of murder in the second degree by non-unanimous juries and sentenced to life in prison following trials in which they argued that they acted in self-...
Updated: January 17, 2025

Ag-gag litigation (Amicus)

Amicus briefs supporting animal rights and other activists' challenges to state “ag-gag” laws.
Updated: December 3, 2019

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