The Legal Advocacy Program provides a vehicle for NLC to support cities and towns involved in significant litigation or administrative adjudication that could affect municipal organization, operation, powers, duties, or financing. The goal of the Program is to present, or assist in presenting, sound and persuasive legal arguments to the courts through appropriate cases on principles and issues important to good municipal government, such as:
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Local legislative discretion;
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Protection of local public revenue authority;
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Opposition to federal unfunded mandates and preemption; and
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Judicial deference to policy determinations by local governing bodies.
The Legal Advisory Committee is a standing advisory body that, with the assistance of NLC legal staff, has responsibility for surveying pending legal matters, evaluating requests for assistance, and making recommendations to the NLC Executive Director about cases that NLC should initiate or seek to participate in by filing an action, intervening as a party, filing or signing onto an amicus brief, providing financial support, or otherwise as appropriate.
The Committee consists of a Chair and four elected members:
Don Moler, Esq., Chair
Executive Director
League of Kansas Municipalities
John Heilman, Esq.
Councilmember
West Hollywood, California
William C. Mathewson, Esq.
General Counsel
Michigan Municipal League
Gary Resnick, Esq.
Mayor
Wilton Manors, Florida
Chuck Thompson, Esq., Ex Officio
Executive Director and General Counsel
International Municipal Lawyers Association
NLC is a trustee member of the State and Local Legal Center, a collaboration of seven national organizations representing state and local governments. The Center prepares and files amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of state and local governments, conducts moot courts for attorneys arguing in the Supreme Court, and provides other assistance to states and local governments in connection with Supreme Court litigation.
State and Local Legal Center Website
Press Release: "Big Seven" Associations Announce State and Local Legal Center Executive Director (1-24-12)