Extraordinary Wins for Free Speech, Religious Freedom and Life.

The year was one of reaping after decades of sowing. Since our founding in 1989, Liberty Counsel has worked tirelessly to advance religious freedom, protect the sanctity of human life, defend free speech and strengthen the family through strategic nationwide litigation. Throughout our 33-year history, we have won numerous court victories ranging from the right to assemble and worship (even in a pandemic), sidewalk counselors’ right to free speech outside abortion clinics and faith-based clubs’ right to meet on public school grounds—to name a few.

But 2022 catapulted Liberty Counsel to the next level with multiple, monumental legal breakthroughs that established national precedent that will have generational impact. Your generous support allowed us to achieve these great victories for life and liberty. Read on to learn more about YOUR impact. —Mat

Help Liberty Counsel continue fighting for freedom in 2023. And now a special ONE MILLION DOLLAR Challenge Grant will DOUBLE THE IMPACT of every donation made by December 31, midnight, your time zone. Please, give generously today.

Tenacious efforts over the last three decades culminated in a cascade of court victories at every federal level: district, appellate and the U.S. Supreme Court. Even as attacks on free speech, religious liberty and the sanctity of human life have intensified, decisive court opinions in strategic cases have raised a standard to stem the incoming tide of moral decay and erosion of constitutional rights.

Unanimous Shurtleff Decision Sets National Precedent
On May 2, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled UNANIMOUSLY in our favor in our “Christian flag” case, Shurtleff v. Boston. The High Court stated that the City of Boston violated the Constitution by censoring Camp Constitution’s private flag in a public forum open to “all applicants” merely because the application referred to it as a “Christian flag.” The High Court ruled that censoring the Christian flag was, in fact, religious viewpoint discrimination and violated the First Amendment.

Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief in the “Praying Coach” case, Kennedy v. Bremerton. In siding with Coach Joe Kennedy’s right to pray on the football field, the High Court cited Liberty Counsel’s win in Shurtleff v. Boston and struck down the terrible 1971 decision in the Lemon v. Kurtzman case.

Victories in Vax Mandates Battles
When COVID vaccine mandates began their march across America in 2021, tens of thousands of people found themselves surrounded by no-way-out “jab-or-job" ultimatums. From employees of large corporations to service members in the military, these individuals were forced to decide whether to be injected with an experimental drug or violate their sincerely held beliefs protected under the Constitution of the United States.

Liberty Counsel filed multiple cases nationwide, representing plaintiffs who were denied religious accommodation requests to COVID-19 shots while assisting thousands of others to obtain religious exemptions. Several cases yielded precedent-setting results. From the beginning, we led the way.

Our lawsuit against NorthShore University HealthSystem on behalf of more than 500 staff members fired for refusing to relinquish their religious freedom rights resulted in a settlement of $10,337,500 in back pay, plus restored positions. This was approved by the court on December 19.

On October 15, 2021, Liberty Counsel sued the Biden administration on behalf of members of all branches of the military, federal employees and federal contractors denied religious accommodations from the COVID shot mandate.

Thus far, there are classwide injunctions protecting members of the Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Marines. Liberty Counsel is now actively working to secure a classwide preliminary injunction on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, and our Marines case will go to trial on January 23, 2023.

Overturning Bans on Christian Counseling
This year, Liberty Counsel won a free speech victory when our lawsuit overturned bans on Christian counseling for children struggling with gender confusion and unwanted same-sex attractions and behaviors. As a result, now counselors in Florida, Georgia and Alabama are free to help their minor clients. This is the first such victory in the nation and sets the standard.

Overturning Roe v. Wade
Liberty Counsel was directly involved in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the case at the epicenter of Roe's demise. Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief on behalf of a diverse group of organizations, churches, religious leaders and individuals—including 70,000 African American and Hispanic churches—asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade because, among other reasons, legalized abortion supports racist eugenics and violates the right to life. The High Court cited our brief in its historic decision.

Liberty Counsel has been unshakably dedicated to protecting and defending human life for more than 33 years. In fact, the very first case I ever argued before the U.S. Supreme Court was in 1994 in defense of pro-life sidewalk counselors, Madsen v. Women’s Health Center.

What a joy then to have the High Court cite our amicus brief in the opinion that overturned Roe and Casey.

This year has been a year of tremendous victory. However, the assaults on Christianity and religious life are growing stronger and more vicious every day. We expect 2023 to be even more challenging.

Thankfully, a special MILLION DOLLAR YEAR-END CHALLENGE GRANT has been established to DOUBLE THE IMPACT of every donation made between now and midnight tomorrow night. Please make your donation no later than 11:59 p.m. in your time zone on December 31 so that Liberty Counsel can take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to refill our legal war chest. Please, give generously today.

Mat Staver
Founder and Chairman
Liberty Counsel