2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 1 of 4 Pg ID 572 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION KRISTY DUMONT; DANA DUMONT; No. 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS ERIN BUSK-SUTTON; REBECCA BUSK-SUTTON; and JENNIFER LUDOLPH, Hon. Paul D. Borman Mag. Elizabeth A. Stafford Plaintiffs, v. GROUP OF 53 MICHIGAN NICK LYON, in his official capacity as STATE LEGISLATORS’ the Director of the Michigan department MOTION FOR LEAVE TO of Health and Human Services; and FILE AMICUS BRIEF HERMAN MCCALL, in his official capacity as the Executive Director of the Michigan Children’s Services Agency, Defendants. Proposed Amicus Curiae are a group of 53 Michigan State Legislators (“State Legislators”) who either sponsored, voted in favor of, or now support 2015 P.A. 53 (“P.A. 53”).1 District courts frequently welcome amicus briefs from non-parties concerning legal issues that have potential ramifications beyond the parties directly involved or if the amicus has “unique information or perspective that can help the court beyond the help that the lawyers for the parties are able to provide.” NGV Gaming, Ltd., 355 F. Supp. 2d 1061, 1067 (N.D. Cal. 2005) (quoting Cobell v. Norton, 246 F. Supp. 2d 1 Amici include 52 current legislators and 1 former state legislator. 1 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 2 of 4 Pg ID 573 59, 62 (D.D.C. 2003)); see also United States v. Alkaabi, 223 F. Supp. 2d 583, 592 (D.N.J. 2002) (the role of an amicus curiae is as a “friend of the court” who can “assist in a case of general public interest, to supplement the efforts of counsel, and to draw the court’s attention to law that might otherwise escape consideration.”). Applied here, State Legislators have a unique interest in this case and a unique perspective as those who passed or supported the law being challenged in this case. This perspective will be helpful to this Court in its resolution of the matter. Pursuant to Local Rule 7.1(a), State Legislators sought the concurrence of counsel for all parties. Defendants Nick Lyon and Herman McCall have no objection to the filing of the proposed amicus brief attached as Exhibit A. Plaintiffs and Defendants-Intervenors St. Vincent Catholic Charities, Melissa and Chad Buck, and Shamber Flore take no position. Therefore, State Legislators respectfully submit this motion to the Court for its consideration and request that this Court grant leave to file the proposed amicus brief accompanying this motion. 2 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 3 of 4 Pg ID 574 Respectfully submitted this 30th day of January, 2018. /s/ Jeremy D. Tedesco Timothy Denney (P39990) Rickard, Denney, Garno & Kristen K. Waggoner (AZ Bar. No. 032382)* Leichliter David A. Cortman (AZ Bar No. 029490) 110 N. Saginaw Street, Ste. 1 Jeremy D. Tedesco (AZ Bar No. 023497) Lapeer, MI 48446 Jonathan A. Scruggs (AZ Bar No. 030505)* (810) 664-0750 Katherine L. Anderson (AZ Bar No. 033104*) [email protected] Alliance Defending Freedom 15100 N. 90th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (480) 444-0020 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Attorneys for Amicus Curiae *Pending admission 3 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 4 of 4 Pg ID 575 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on January 30, 2018, I electronically filed the foregoing document with the Clerk of Court using the ECF system which will provide electronic copies to counsel of record. /s/ Jeremy D. Tedesco Jeremy D. Tedesco (AZ Bar No. 023497) Alliance Defending Freedom 15100 N. 90th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (480) 444-0020 [email protected] 4 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26-1 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 1 of 37 Pg ID 576 EXHIBIT A 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26-1 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 2 of 37 Pg ID 577 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION KRISTY DUMONT; DANA DUMONT; No. 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS ERIN BUSK-SUTTON; REBECCA BUSK-SUTTON; and JENNIFER LUDOLPH, Hon. Paul D. Borman Mag. Elizabeth A. Stafford Plaintiffs, v. AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF OF NICK LYON, in his official capacity as 53 MICHIGAN STATE the Director of the Michigan department LEGISLATORS IN SUPPORT of Health and Human Services; and OF DEFENDANTS’ AND HERMAN MCCALL, in his official INTERVENORS’ MOTIONS capacity as the Executive Director of the TO DISMISS Michigan Children’s Services Agency, Defendants. Timothy Denney (P39990) Kristen K. Waggoner (AZ Bar. No. 032382)* Rickard, Denney, Garno & David A. Cortman (AZ Bar No. 029490) Leichliter Jeremy D. Tedesco (AZ Bar No. 023497) 110 N. Saginaw Street, Ste. 1 Jonathan A. Scruggs (AZ Bar No. 030505)* Lapeer, MI 48446 Katherine L. Anderson (AZ Bar No. 033104)* (810) 664-0750 ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM [email protected] 15100 N. 90th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Telephone: (480) 444-0020 Fax: (480) 444-0028 [email protected] *Pending admission [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26-1 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 3 of 37 Pg ID 578 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF AUTHORITIES ................................................................................... iii CONCISE STATEMENT OF ISSUES PRESENTED ......................................... viii CONTROLLING OR MOST APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY .............................. ix INTEREST OF AMICUS CURIAE ..........................................................................1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................1 ARGUMENT .............................................................................................................2 I. P.A. 53 seeks to maximize the welfare of children. ........................................ 2 Faith-based agencies have played key roles in the foster and adoption area. ..................................................................................2 Faith-based agencies were forced to close in other states. .................... 4 Michigan children flourish with a diversity of options. ........................ 6 After considering legislation passed in other jurisdictions, Michigan enacted its own law. .............................................................. 8 II. The Complaint should be dismissed for lack of standing. ............................10 No injury in fact. .................................................................................10 No causal connection...........................................................................14 No redressability. .................................................................................15 III. The Complaint should be dismissed for failure to state an Establishment Clause or Equal Protection claim. .........................................16 Plaintiffs do not challenge state action. ...............................................16 P.A. 53 complies with the Establishment Clause because it promotes the secular purpose of protecting children. .........................18 P.A. 53 complies with the Equal Protection Clause because it satisfies rational basis review. ..........................................................21 i 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26-1 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 4 of 37 Pg ID 579 This Court should avoid a ruling that clashes with the federal or state Free Exercise Clauses. ................................................23 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................24 ii 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26-1 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 5 of 37 Pg ID 580 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Cases ACLU v. Grayson County, 591 F.3d 837 (6th Cir. 2010) ......................................................................... 20 ACLU-New Jersey v. Township of Wall, 246 F.3d 258 (3d Cir. 2001) .................................................................... 12, 13 Adams v. Vandemark, 855 F.2d 312 (6th Cir. 1988) ......................................................................... 17 Agostini v. Felton, 521 U.S. 203 (1997)....................................................................................... 21 Allen v. Wright, 468 U.S. 737 (1984)........................................................................... 11, 12, 15 Barber v. Bryant, 860 F.3d 345 (5th Cir. 2017) ......................................................................... 12 City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, 473 U.S. 432 (1985)....................................................................................... 21 Clapper v. Amnesty International USA, 568 U.S. 398 (2013)....................................................................................... 12 Collyer v. Darling, 98 F.3d 211 (6th Cir. 1996) ........................................................................... 16 Country Mill Farms, LLC v. City of East Lansing, No. 1:17-CV-487, 2017 WL 5514818 (W.D. Mich. Nov. 16, 2017) ...... 23, 24 Crowder v. Conlan, 740 F.2d 447 (6th Cir. 1984) ......................................................................... 17 E. Brooks Books, Inc. v. Shelby County, 588 F.3d 360 (6th Cir. 2009) ......................................................................... 22 Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Co., 500 U.S. 614 (1991)....................................................................................... 16 iii 2:17-cv-13080-PDB-EAS Doc # 26-1 Filed 01/30/18 Pg 6 of 37 Pg ID 581 Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Nicholson, 536 F.3d 730 (7th Cir. 2008) ........................................................................