ADF History
New Look. Same Mission.
Alliance Defending Freedom launches a refreshed brand to better capture the heart of our ministry as Advocates. We don’t stand for mere ideas or abstract principles. We stand for people. In every case we take, in every law we defend, and in every word we speak, we take up the cause of truth on behalf of another. That is the heart of our advocacy. Following our Lord, we advocate for fellow image-bearers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We do so in the blessed knowledge that this work touches eternity: the legal door we keep open to the Gospel will one day lead to celebration and worship with our brothers and sisters around the throne of God. The brand is new. The mission is unchanging. All glory to God for bringing us to this moment.
19th and 20th Supreme Court Wins Mark Monumental Victory for Women’s Sports
In State of West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld West Virginia’s and Idaho’s laws ensuring that males cannot compete in women’s sports. The Court ruled 9-0 that Title IX permits states to maintain sex-specific teams and 6-3 that the Equal Protection Clause allows the same, empowering states across the country to protect female athletes. ADF served as co-counsel alongside Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey.
ADF Achieves 18th Supreme Court Win on Behalf of New Jersey Pregnancy Center
In First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Davenport, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that a pro-life pregnancy center may bring its claims in federal court after New Jersey’s attorney general demanded years of internal records and donor information. The decision lets First Choice hold the state accountable for violating its constitutional rights in federal court.
17th Supreme Court Victory Upholds Free Speech in Counseling
In Chiles v. Salazar, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that counseling conversations are speech and that states cannot silence viewpoints in the counseling room. ADF represented Kaley Chiles, a counselor who wants to help young people distressed about their gender achieve their chosen goal to regain comfort with their bodies and avoid harmful drugs and procedures. Colorado’s law forbids her from having those voluntary conversations with her clients under age 18.
Supreme Court Delivers Victory for Parents’ Religious Freedom
In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Maryland school district violated parents’ religious freedom when it refused to provide notice or let them opt their young children out of classroom lessons on sexuality and gender using “LGBTQ+-inclusive” books. ADF filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the parents’ fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of their children.
ADF Achieves 16th Victory at the Supreme Court
In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that pro-life states like South Carolina can redirect taxpayer dollars away from abortion facilities like Planned Parenthood, freeing states to steward limited public resources to best serve their citizens. ADF represented the state of South Carolina before the High Court.
Supreme Court Upholds a State’s Right to Protect Children
In United States v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Tennessee may enforce its law protecting minors from potentially irreversible puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries. ADF helped craft the law and filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the state, and the ruling safeguards similar protections in more than two dozen states.
3,000 Blackstone Fellows Commissioned
The Blackstone Legal Fellowship surpasses 3,000 Christian law students commissioned as Fellows to make a lasting impact for Christ on law and culture.
Jack Phillips Wins Third Lawsuit
After more than 12 years of litigation, the Colorado Supreme Court dismissed the third lawsuit against Jack Phillips. The case was originally brought against Jack in 2019 by an attorney who sought to compel Jack to create a custom cake celebrating a “gender transition.”
ADF Achieves 15th Victory at the Supreme Court
In 303 Creative v. Elenis, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Colorado cannot punish graphic artist and website designer Lorie Smith for creating custom art consistent with her beliefs. This is a win for the free-speech rights of all Americans. The Supreme Court’s decision affirms a bedrock principle: The government cannot force us to say something we don’t believe. Equal treatment under the law requires protecting everyone’s right to free speech.
ADF Board names new CEO, president
Alliance Defending Freedom announced Kristen Waggoner as its new CEO and president. Waggoner assumed the post on Oct. 1, succeeding Michael Farris, who joined ADF in January 2017, and Alan Sears, who served 23 years as the founding CEO. Under her leadership on the U.S. legal team, ADF has secured 13 of ADF’s 14 U.S. Supreme Court wins since 2011. Since Farris and Waggoner joined, ADF has garnered recognition as one of the largest legal powerhouses defending God-given freedoms, and at the close of the 2021 fiscal year in June, it crossed the $100 million revenue threshold. Michael Farris will continue to serve ADF in key areas related to his expertise.
ADF Achieves 14th Victory at the Supreme Court Since 2011
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. This monumental decision upheld Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act, which limits abortions after 15 weeks. It is a victory that will be felt for generations and one that significantly advances our Generational Win effort to guarantee the right to life from conception to natural death. ADF worked with Mississippi lawmakers to draft the Gestational Age Act, supported the defense of this law in the lower courts, and served on the Mississippi legal team defending the law before the Supreme Court.
ADF Achieves 13th Victory at U.S. Supreme Court since 2011
In Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta, the Supreme Court struck down California’s unnecessary and unconstitutional blanket donor-disclosure requirement, preserving every American’s right to peacefully support causes and charities they believe in without fear of harassment or intimidation.
A Major Victory for the First Amendment
In Meriwether v. The Trustees of Shawnee State University, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that, based on the facts detailed in the complaint, the university violated ADF client Dr. Nicholas Meriwether’s First Amendment rights when it punished the professor for declining a male student’s demand to be referred to as a woman.
ADF Achieves 12th Victory at U.S. Supreme Court Since 2011
The Supreme Court delivers justice for ADF client Chike Uzuegbunam in Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski, ruling that the government officials who silenced him twice as he tried to share his faith on campus while a college student cannot evade accountability for violating his rights simply by changing their policies going forward.
Appeals Court Rules Nevada Churches Can’t Be Treated Worse Than Casinos
In Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit halted enforcement of Nevada’s COVID-19 restrictions that treated churches, including our clients, more harshly than other venues, such as casinos.
ADF Helps Thousands of Churches and Ministries Navigate COVID-19 Restrictions
In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, ADF assists, or equips others to assist, more than 3,200 churches and ministries on COVID-19-related issues.
ADF Plays a Role in Three Crucial Wins at the U.S. Supreme Court
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
In a case backed by ADF, the Supreme Court ruled that states can’t oust parents and children from neutral benefit programs simply because they choose a religious private school.
Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, St. James School v. Biel
The Supreme Court affirms, in an ADF-backed case, that the First Amendment prevents the government from meddling with a religious group’s employment decisions about those who teach the faith.
Little Sisters of The Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Trump v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
In an ADF-backed case, the Supreme Court upholds the government’s ability to enact U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rules that protect organizations with religious or moral objections to abortion from being subject to a federal requirement that employer health plans cover abortifacients.
Student Speech Protected on California State University Campuses
A federal court holds that a CSU-San Marcos campus policy that allowed university officials to allocate student funding unequally and favor some student groups over others violates the First Amendment and the rights of our client, Nathan Apodaca. The court denied qualified immunity to the Chancellor and President, which resulted in changes to the policies of all 23 other CSU campuses as well, representing close to half a million students.
ADF Achieves 10th Victory at U.S. Supreme Court in Eight Years
In Thompson v. Hebdon, the Supreme Court vacated a federal appeals court decision that had upheld Alaska’s draconian campaign contribution laws, ordering the lower court to revisit its previous ruling in light of the Court’s First Amendment decisions. ADF represented Alaska voters before the Court, together with lead counsel Paul D. Clement and other Kirkland & Ellis LLP attorneys.
Kentucky Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Print Shop Owner
After a seven-year legal battle defending his right not to be forced to print messages that violate his religious beliefs, promotional printer and ADF client Blaine Adamson secures a unanimous victory at the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Arizona Supreme Court Issues Huge Win for Artistic Freedom
In Brush & Nib Studio v. City of Phoenix, the Arizona Supreme Court rules that the city of Phoenix cannot use a criminal law to force two artists and ADF clients to design and create custom wedding invitations expressing messages that conflict with their core beliefs.
Jack Wins Again
The Colorado Civil Rights Commission dismisses its second case against cake artist Jack Phillips in the wake of an ADF lawsuit and newly discovered evidence of the state’s ongoing hostility toward Jack and his faith.
A Major Win for Free Speech at the U.S. Supreme Court
In a pivotal free speech decision, the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of pro-life pregnancy centers in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, after a California law forced pro-life pregnancy centers to refer for abortions and provide free advertising for the abortion industry. ADF represented NIFLA before the Court. On remand, the lower court officially halted enforcement of the law.
2,000 Blackstone Fellows Commissioned
The Blackstone Legal Fellowship surpasses 2,000 Christian law students commissioned as Fellows to make a lasting impact for Christ on law and culture.
Jack Wins at the U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court rules 7-2 in favor of Colorado cake artist and ADF client Jack Phillips in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, citing “impermissible hostility” by state officials toward Jack’s religious beliefs.
Chief Cochran Gets Justice
After a federal district court struck down a City of Atlanta speech policy that cost former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran his job, the city agreed to pay a $1.2 million settlement for violating the ADF client’s constitutional freedoms.
ADF Ministry Alliance Launched
With a growing number of Christian ministries facing threats to their religious freedom, ADF launches the Ministry Alliance. A companion to the Church Alliance, the program provides educational resources and legal guidance related to religious liberty.
400th Win for the ADF Center for Academic Freedom
The ADF Center for Academic Freedom celebrates its 400th win, protecting freedom on hundreds of American public school and public university campuses.
A Precedent-Setting Victory for Religious Freedom
In the case of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that the government cannot exclude churches and other faith-based organizations from a government program simply because of their religious identity. ADF represented Trinity Lutheran before the Court.
ADF Church Alliance Launched
To make it possible for Christian churches of all sizes to access affordable educational resources and legal guidance related to their religious freedom needs, ADF launches the ADF Church Alliance.
Center for Legislative Advocacy Launched
ADF launches the Center for Legislative Advocacy to provide top-notch policy analysis, on-the-ground testimony in legislative hearings, and communication and messaging work that helps put policy into action.
New CEO Michael Farris
ADF introduces Michael Farris as the organization’s new President and CEO. Mike assumes this post as the second ADF CEO, following Alan Sears, who served for 23 years.
A Key Victory for Life and Religious Freedom
In Zubik v. Burwell, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously vacated the ruling against five Christian universities (represented by ADF) and other religious groups challenging the Obamacare contraceptive mandate, sending the cases back to the lower courts.
1 Million Pro Bono Hours
ADF Allied Attorneys report their 1 millionth pro bono hour defending religious freedom across the world.
First Summit on Religious Liberty
One of our flagship training programs, the ADF Summit on Religious Liberty, brings together a remarkable group of leaders in law, public policy, media, business, education, and ministry to collaborate on legal and cultural strategies to protect religious liberty around the globe.
2 Key Victories
Holt v. Hobbs
In an ADF-backed case, the U.S. Supreme Court holds that an Arkansas prison policy that prevents a prisoner from growing a half-inch beard in accordance with his religious beliefs violates RLUIPA.
Reed v. Town of Gilbert
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Town of Gilbert’s sign code was facially unconstitutional and that it discriminated against the content of Good News Community Church’s signs when the town’s regulation allowed political, ideological, and homeowner’s association signs to be larger in size and remain up longer than the church’s temporary signs inviting others to its services. ADF represented Clyde Reed, pastor of Good News Community Church, before the Court.
5 Key Victories for Religious Freedom
Town of Greece v. Galloway
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Americans are free to pray according to their own beliefs at public meetings. ADF represented Town of Greece before the Court.
SBA List v. Driehaus
In an ADF-backed case, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the freedom of Americans to speak in accordance with their views by allowing them to challenge laws that silence them.
Lane v. Franks
In another ADF-backed case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the First Amendment protects the speech of public employees outside the workplace on matters of public concern.
McCullen v. Coakley
In a case backed by ADF, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down a Massachusetts law that created a 35-foot “buffer zone” restricting pro-life advocates from speaking with people entering abortion facilities.
Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Burwell
The U.S. Supreme Court rules against the Obama Administration’s contraceptive mandate in favor of two family-run businesses, Conestoga Wood Specialties and Hobby Lobby (Burwell v. Hobby Lobby). ADF represented Conestoga Wood Specialties before the Court.
Advancing For Faith … For Justice
By God’s amazing grace, a brand-new chapter in the 18-year history of this legal ministry begins. Alliance Defense Fund changes name to Alliance Defending Freedom. This new name and tagline more effectively communicate ADF’s mission, strengthen our efforts, and attract like-minded Ministry Friends.
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ADF Successfully Defends Educational Freedom Against ACLU
In ACSTO v. Winn, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the ACLU “offended taxpayer” challenge to Arizona’s tuition tax credit program. Its decision ensured families remained free to choose the best educational option for their children . This includes provision of scholarship funds to private Christian schools. ADF represented the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization (ACSTO), an organization that awards scholarships to children. This was ADF’s first Supreme Court victory directly representing a client before the Court.
Ministry Publication Launched
ADF launches its new magazine, Faith & Justice (formerly known as Truth & Triumph).
Victory in “Partial-Birth Abortion” Case
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the federal ban on so-called “partial-birth abortions” in the ADF-backed case, Gonzales v. Carhart.
Victories for Life and Religious Freedom
In little over a month, the U.S. Supreme Court issues unanimous decisions advancing our Generational Wins in multiple ADF-backed cases.
Key U.S. Supreme Court Victory
Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow
In another ADF-backed case, the U.S. Supreme Court reverses the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit’s decision finding that public school recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance violates the Constitution because the pledge includes the words “under God.”
1,000th Grant Awarded
In less than 10 years since its founding, Alliance Defending Freedom is blessed to award its 1,000th grant to help fund cases that defend religious freedom.
Equal Access to School Property for Christians
U.S. Supreme Court rules that middle schools must provide equal access to after-school Bible clubs to meet on school property, thanks to precedent supported by ADF.
Blackstone Legal Fellowship Launched
The Blackstone Legal Fellowship is launched to train some of the best and brightest Christian law students from across the world to impact law and culture.
Legal Academy Established
Marking the beginning of the ADF Allied Attorney program, the first-ever ADF Legal Academy trains Christian attorneys in constitutional law so they can provide pro bono, dedicated service to the Body of Christ.
2 Key Victories for Religious Liberty
Two ADF-backed U.S. Supreme Court victories set legal precedents for future victories. One affirmed the right for organizations to not associate their message with groups that espouse different views. The second faults universities for illegally denying funding to student activities due to their religious message.
Alliance Defense Fund is Launched
January 31, 1994 – Alliance Defense Fund is introduced to the nation at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Washington, D.C. with Alan Sears as president.