Court Cases

Read about some of MALDEF’s work in the courts to uphold the civil rights of all Latinos.

Education

MALDEF STATEMENT ON U.S. SUPREME COURT’S RULING ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today in (Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard, and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina) upends a 45-year-precedent that clearly affirmed the use of race as one of several considerations in admissions.

Employment

MALDEF STATEMENT ON PASSING OF LABOR LEADER RICHARD TRUMKA

LOS ANGELES –  Please attribute the following statement on the death of longtime AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka to Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund:

Immigrants’ Rights

MALDEF SUES CREDIT UNION FOR DISCRIMINATORY LENDING

A Latino civil rights organization filed a class-action lawsuit last week against a Central California credit union for unlawfully denying a loan to a DACA recipient on the basis of her immigration status instead of her credit-worthiness. MALDEF (Mexican American...

MALDEF SUES OREGON CREDIT UNION FOR DISCRIMINATORY LENDING PRACTICES

Oakland, CA - A Latino civil rights organization filed a federal class-action lawsuit Friday against a credit union for unlawfully denying a home equity loan to a DACA recipient based on his immigration status. MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational...

Voting Rights

MALDEF STATEMENT ON APPELLATE COURT RULING IN VRA CHALLENGE

LOS ANGELES – In a 2-1 decision, a federal court of appeals panel today ruled that private parties do not have the ability to sue under Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA).  The decision came in a case out of Arkansas and will apply in the eight states in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

TIMELINE OF TEXAS’S VOTER SUPPRESSION LEGISLATION SB1

Following the 2020 Presidential election dozens of states began passing bills with provisions that restricted voting rights. Texas was one of those states. The voter suppression legislation known as SB1 imposes new ID requirements on elderly and disabled mail voters, prevents election officials from reigning in unruly partisan poll watchers, limits community-based voter outreach, and makes it more difficult for voters to use the assister of their choice.

Access to Justice

MALDEF STATEMENT ON THE NOMINATION OF TWO LATINAS TO FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL

LOS ANGELES – Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) issued the statement below in response to President Biden’s nomination of two sitting judges to federal courts of appeals, including the first Latina to serve on the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Help protect and promote the civil rights of the Latino community and the future for all Americans.