Brach V. Newsom
Join the fight to #OpenCASchools!
On July 17, 2020, Governor Newsom announced that in more than 30 counties across California, school facilities will remain closed to start the fall semester—leaving roughly 80% of the state’s student population without access to a basic education.
Keeping California’s Governor Accountable to the Law
On July 21, 2020, the Center for American Liberty, on behalf of plaintiffs Matthew Brach, Alison Walsh, John Ziegler, Kenneth Fleming, Erica Sephton, Lacee Beaulieu, Jesse Petrilla, Roger Hackett, and Christine Ruiz, in coordination with the Dhillon Law Group, filed a landmark lawsuit against California Governor Gavin Newsom, challenging his order barring in-classroom education in 32 counties and for 80% of California’s children.
In these counties, education will be relegated to online distance learning. For too many families, that means no learning at all—particularly those in minority communities, the growing financially distressed population, single-parent families, and families of special needs children. Governor Newsom’s unilateral act even bars parents in most of the state from taking their kids to a private school to obtain the education the state denies!
An Unfounded and Unconstitutional Overreach
The Governor’s closure of schools violates California’s constitutional guarantee to a basic education, federal due process, and equal protection guarantees, and the federal right to an effective education for disabled children.
What’s more, the Governor’s order flies in the face of science, data, and the knowledge learned from the failed online education experiment of the 2020 spring semester in California’s schools, in which large portions of the children were unable to log on and access online learning—or if they could, experienced at best ineffective and at worst, nonexistent instruction.
Families Defending Their Children’s Rights
Plaintiffs in this case represent families from across the state whose rights to a basic education are being denied. Their children have already suffered academically, socially, and emotionally from stunted online education in the spring. The plaintiffs rightfully fear compounded injury to academic progress and physical/mental health and development in the year ahead.
This lawsuit was filed in United States District Court for the Central District of California seeking declaratory and injunctive relief.
You Can Make a Difference—Support the Cause Today!
Kids have the right to an education. Make that right a reality for millions of children by supporting our case, Brach v. Newsom, today.
The Center for American Liberty is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, which means that your charitable donations to support this case is deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
But this work is not possible without you. We need your support today!
Thank you in advance for supporting the cause. Your generous donation can make a profound difference in the lives of children across the state of California—opening up educational opportunities for millions.
