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Amicus Curiae
Amicus curiae is a Latin term meaning “friend of the court.” An amicus curiae is not a party to the lawsuit but is a person or group that has a strong interest in the matter being litigated. The function of an amicus curiae is to bring to the court’s attention law, facts, or circumstances in the pending lawsuit that might not otherwise be discussed by the parties to the lawsuit. An amicus curiae’s intent is to influence the court’s decision.
Federal court rules provide that an amicus brief may be filed only if all parties give written consent, if the court grants leave to file an amicus brief, or if the court requests the filing of an amicus brief. A brief is a legal memorandum presenting legal arguments on the questions raised by the lawsuit. Generally, amicus curiae participation occurs at the appellate level where questions of law are in dispute. With the court’s permission, an amicus curiae can also argue the case and introduce evidence. However, such permission is rarely granted.
Amicus curiae are frequently given permission to file briefs in cases involving a matter of public interest. For example, many groups were allowed to file amicus curiae briefs in a 2004 United States Supreme Court case involving a constitutional challenge to a school district’s policy of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, which contained the words “under God.” One amicus curiae brief was filed on behalf of 32 named Christian and Jewish clergy and the Unitarian Universal Association, a religious organization. The brief argued that the Pledge violated the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment by imposing religious beliefs on children whose parents taught other beliefs.
In the landmark 1973 abortion case, Roe v. Wade, a large number of medical groups, such as Planned Parenthood and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, religious organizations, pro-choice groups, and pro-life organizations were granted permission to file amicus curiae briefs.
Copyright 2012 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
Donald W. Hudspeth
Principal Attorney
Attorney Donald W. Hudspeth has more than twenty years’ experience practicing corporate and business law. Before attending law school, Mr. Hudspeth held a stock brokers license at the age of 21 and owned his own business at the age of 23. He was a business law professor at Arizona State University, West Campus, and has conducted classes and seminars for a number of higher institutions and organizations. Mr. Hudspeth has published two books on law and is the founder of the radio programs Law on the Edge and Law Talk.
Mark S. Hamilton
Attorney
About Attorney Mark S. Hamilton has experience handling all aspects of civil and commercial litigation in federal, state, and tribal courts at the trial and appellate levels. Practice Areas Business litigation Commercial litigation Education University Of Hawaii Wm. S. Richardson School Of Law, Juris Doctor - 2002 University Of Hawaii, Master Of Arts in Asian…
AWARDS
Our firm now offers a scholarship program for ASU first and second year law students.
The scholarship is awarded to students for academic merit with an interest in business and business law. Candidates may have majored in fields other than business, have taken a break between college and law school, or have had exceptional life experiences.
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