CJA authors or signs amicus curiae briefs in support of human rights cases filed by other individuals or organizations, where decisions in these cases could have a wide-ranging impact on our work and on the evolution of human rights law. Our amicus briefs provide substantive written arguments on legal issues on which we have expertise, and address topics ranging from the abuse of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay to the prevailing impunity for violence against women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
CJA’s Amicus Docket
March 14, 2024 and September 9, 2024: DCI-Palestine v. Biden
Right to a judicial remedy for genocide under international law
August 20, 2021: U.S. v. Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn
Advocating for transparency and accountability for CIA extraordinary rendition and torture programs
December 22, 2020: D.J.C.V. v. U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement
Right to a remedy for victims of the Trump administration’s family separation policy
October 21, 2020: Doe v. Nestlé and Doe v. Cargill
Holding those complicit for human rights abuses accountable in U.S. courts
August 3, 2020: Mamani v. Berzain
Command Responsibility for the killing of civilians in Bolivia
June 5, 2020: Doe v. Chiquita
Chiquita Brands International, Inc., Alien Tort Statute & Shareholder Derivative Litigation
November 15, 2019: Amicus Curiae Observations
Supporting an investigation by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court into war crimes and crimes against humanity that have a nexus with the conflict in Afghanistan, including treatment of detainees captured and held by the United States.
September 18, 2019: Alvarez v. The Johns Hopkins University, et al.
Filed in a case brought on behalf of Guatemalans who were subjected to non-consensual medical experiments between 1945 and 1956. Our amicus brief argues that Jesner v. Arab Bank does not preclude suit against domestic U.S. corporations under the Alien Tort Statute for international law violations. (co-counsel: Center for Constitutional Rights)
May 21, 2019: Al Shimari v. CACI
Supporting the rights of redress of victims of torture in U.S. overseas military facilities.
October 12, 2018: Mamani v. Berzain
Command Responsibility for the killing of civilians in Bolivia.
June 1, 2018: Ratha v. Phatthana Seafood Co
Supporting human trafficking claims from rural Cambodian villagers.
March 30, 2018: Trump v. International Refugee Assistance Project
Supporting Claims that Trumps Executive Order 13780 violates international court.
Human Trafficking in Iraq.
March 21, 2014: Balcero v. Drummond Company, Inc.
Corporate Accountability for Crimes Against Humanity Committed by Paramilitary Forces in Colombia.
November 5, 2013: Al Shimari v. CACI
Right to Redress for Victims of Torture in U.S. Overseas Military Facilities.
No Statute of Limitations on Crimes Against Humanity.
June 3, 2012: Kiobel v. Shell
Justice in U.S. courts for atrocities overseas: preserving the Alien Tort Statute
September 29, 2011: Mamani v. Berzain
Command responsibility for the killing of indigenous protesters in Bolivia.
January 28, 2011: Ashcroft v. Al-Kidd
Holding U.S. Officials Accountable for the Misuse of Witness Detention to Hold Suspects Without Probable Cause.
September 20, 2010: Ali v. Rumsfeld
Right to Redress for Victims of Torture in U.S. Overseas Military Facilities.
July 5, 2010: Zontul v. Greece
Supporting Claims of Torture and Violence Against LGBT Refugees before the European Court of Human Rights.
October 28, 2008: Ashcroft v. Iqbal
Racial Profiling and Prisoner Abuse in the Round-up of New York Area Muslims.
July 7, 2009: Campo Algodonero v. The United Mexican States
Ciudad Juárez: Addressing Mexico’s Failure to Prosecute Violence Against Women.
March 25, 2009: Iraq v. Beaty
No Immunity for Torture: The Right to Redress as an International Legal Norm.
September 27, 2007: Matar v. Dichter
The Limits of Sovereign Immunity: Preserving the Intended Purpose of the Torture Victim Protection Act.
August 31, 2007: Belhas v. Ya’alon
Opposing Sovereign Immunity for War Crimes and Extrajudicial Killing.
January 17, 2007: Rasul v. Rumsfeld
The Right of Redress: Supporting the Claims of Torture Survivors Against Bush Administration Officials.
January 6, 2006: Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
Tortured Evidence: Opposing the Unconstitutional Military Commissions for Guantanamo Detainees
December 20, 2005: Sanchez-Llamas v. Oregon
The Right of Consular Access for Foreign Nationals.
March 5, 2005: Acree v. Republic of Iraq
Torture in Iraq: Supporting the Claims of Survivors Against the Iraqi Government.
January 2005: Medellin v. Dretke
Foreign Nationals on Death Row: Recognizing the Right of Access to Consular Officials.
March 10, 2004: Rasul v. Bush & Al-Odah v. U.S.
The Right of Habeas Corpus: Defending Due Process for Guantanamo Detainees.
February 2004: Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain
Preserving the Alien Tort Statute as a Powerful Tool for Human Rights Litigation.
February 2004: Tachiona v. Mugabe
The Robert Mugabe Case: Keeping Determinations of Immunity in the Judicial Branch.
January 22, 2004: Arar v. Ashcroft
Absolute Prohibition: U.S. Accountability for Torture and Extraordinary Rendition.
October 2002: Ford v. Garcia
El Salvador: Command Responsibility for the Infamous Churchwomen Murders.
August 28, 2002: Hwang Geum Joo v. Japan
The Comfort Women Case: Supporting the Claims of WWII-era Victims of Sexual Violence.
June 13, 2002: Mohamed v. Palestinian Authority
The Liability of Businesses and Organizations for Torture and Extrajudicial Killing.
