BADC Amicus Curiae Practice
BADC Amicus Curiae Practice
The BADC participates as an amicus party, both as an Association, and via its individual Sections, by preparing, or joining and submitting briefs filed in appellate courts at the state and federal judiciary level. Signing on to and filing independent amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs furthers the BADC’s desire to advocate for the issues that are most pressing to its membership and that align with its mission. Amicus briefs filed by or with the support of the BADC offer its membership a critical voice, sharing relevant insight, and persuasive arguments that may assist jurists deciding important, precedential legal cases at the various levels of the judiciary.
The BADC welcomes applications for amicus support. This page includes information about the BADC’s selection criteria and evaluation process. For more information about cases that we have supported, please review summaries of the cases on the Amicus Briefs page. Persons interested in requesting amicus support from the WBA for a pending case can complete our Amicus Curiae Request Form after reviewing the information below, or by emailing to the attention of our current President at staff@badc.org.
Priority Issues and Selection Criteria
Formal selection criteria help streamline the evaluation process, establish consistency in our reviews, and ensure that the cases selected align with the BADC’s mission and its advocacy priorities. The BADC’s priorities and amicus curiae selection criteria are outlined below:
Priority Issues
- Rule of Law;
- Civil & Human Rights;
- Access to Justice in DC;
- Quality of Life for the DC Legal Community;
- Legal Profession Wellbeing & Interests of the DC Legal Community;
- Young Lawyers Section Activities and Advocacy;
- Neglect & Delinquency Practice Institute (NDPI) Training Program & Advocacy;
- Bankruptcy & Restructuring Access to Justice;
- IP Section Advocacy furthering Access to Intellectual Property Rights Protection and Enforcement;
- A diverse and independent judiciary;
- BADC and FBADC Collaboration;
- BADC Lawyer Referral Service (LRS); and
- General Legal Interests of the Stakeholder Community in the District of Columbia.
Recent Amicus Activity:
Wilmerhale LLP v. Executive Office of the President (April 10, 2025)
Wilmerhale LLP v. Executive Office of the President (April 10, 2025)
Jenner & Block LLP v. U.S. Department of Justice (April 10, 2025)
Jenner & Block LLP v. U.S. Department of Justice (April 10, 2025)
Susman Godfrey LLP v. Executive Office of the President (April 25, 2025)
Susman Godfrey LLP v. Executive Office of the President (April 25, 2025)
Mark Zaid, Esq. v. Executive Office of the President (May 28, 2025)
Mark Zaid, Esq. v. Executive Office of the President (May 28, 2025)
American Bar Association (ABA) v. Executive Office of the President (October 2, 2025)
American Bar Association (ABA) v. Executive Office of the President (October 2, 2025)
BADC’s Description and Mission
About the BADC
Founded in 1871, The BADC is among the three oldest bar associations in the nation, along with the New York City Bar and Boston City Bar Associations. It is a general voluntary bar allowed to lobby, distinguished from the mandatory bar restricted from doing so. The BADC provides the only lawyer referral service in the District of Columbia as a service both to its members and to the community. The BADC’s Foundation makes grants each year to legal services providers who represent children and their families before DC’s courts.
Mission
The BADC seeks to promote civility, justice, and collegiality among members of the legal profession in the nation’s capital.