Judicial Advocacy Initiative (JAI)
Advocacy in the Courts
Court cases across the nation determine a wide range of issues affecting the mission of the American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN). Recent court decisions on the employment rights of cancer survivors, insurance coverage issues, and tobacco industry malfeasance greatly impact the cancer community. The Society and ACS CAN's new Judicial Advocacy Initiative (JAI) was created to better pursue mission through the judiciary.
JAI proactively identifies lawsuits that impact cancer patients, and files "friend of the court" briefs on behalf of the Society and ACS CAN when our expertise on health policy may be useful to judges as they make decisions that affect our mission. For maximum benefit, JAI targets court cases that involve public policies that broadly impact the cancer community.
JAI attorneys have also helped ACS CAN draft comments to regulatory agencies in rulemakings that affect our mission. Their work ensures that government agencies tasked with implementing new laws understand the cancer perspective when writing regulations.
Read about our program in the NonProfit Times
Latest Updates
- Protecting Cancer Survivors Against Discrimination
- Access to Care
- Tobacco Litigation
- Letter to Centers for Medicaid and Medicare re the state Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Programs
Initiative Priorities
Winning the fight against cancer depends on improving access to quality health care. Preventing discrimination against cancer survivors in the workplace and schools is an essential part of the equation. JAI seeks to uphold these rights for cancer survivors.
Supporters
The JAI receives pro bono assistance from 4 multi-national law firms, K&L Gates, LLP; Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP, McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP, and Sherman & Howard, L.L.C. Their donated services leverage a multi-sector partnership for the common good. They provide specialized expertise in monitoring and reviewing cases, as well as crafting briefs. Their commitment to JAI indicates that respected professionals in the legal establishment believe the program can make a difference.
In addition, JAI is collaborating with other organizations that serve common goals. JAI has done extensive study into best practices by non-profits who file amicus briefs, as well as forming relationships with key public health partners.
Questions about the program or requests for more information may be submitted here
