Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsel

Jay Alan Sekulow is a nationally recognized and respected defender of constitutional freedoms. As chief counsel for the ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice), Sekulow has presented oral arguments in numerous Supreme Court cases. In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals" in America, and called the ACLJ "a powerful counterweight" to the ACLU.

Founded in 1990, the ACLJ specializes in Constitutional and First Amendment law and is involved in public interest and policy issues that threaten the American family. Since assuming leadership of the ACLJ and its sister organization, the European Center for Law and Justice (ECLJ), Sekulow has defended Constitutional freedoms in a wide range or major cases, including two that have become benchmarks in the area of recent religious-liberty litigation.

• In Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens, Sekulow cleared the way for public school students to form religious clubs and organizations on their school campuses.

• His arguments in Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches School District, ensured that all religious groups be treated equally with respect to the use of public facilities.

Sekulow and the ACLJ also played key roles in recent Supreme Court cases involving The Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance, and abortion. In 2006, Sekulow successfully argued before the Supreme Court a case concerning a controversial lawsuit filed by pro-abortion groups trying to stop pro-life protestors by misusing the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), which has traditionally been used against gangsters and organized crime.

A complete list of cases before the United States Supreme Court in which the ACLJ has been involved is available at www.aclj.org/cases. 

The work by Sekulow and the ACLJ prompted Business Week to describe the ACLJ as "the leading advocacy group for religious freedom." Sekulow's work on the issue of Supreme Court and other judicial nominees has received extensive news coverage, including the front page of the Wall Street Journal. In addition, the National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers" in the United States, and was identified by The American Lawyer as part of a distinguished group of attorneys known as "The Public Sector 45." The magazine described the group as "45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives." Sekulow also serves as a faculty member in the Office of Legal Education for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he provides legal expertise to federal prosecutors on the issue of obscenity. Sekulow also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington.

Sekulow's work extends beyond the courtroom. Each weekday, he brings insight and education to thousands of listeners with his nationally syndicated call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live, which is broadcast on nearly 600 U.S. radio stations. Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast nationwide on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet. Sekulow is a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS. He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers.

A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude, receiving both a bachelor's degree and a doctor of jurisprudence. He also served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member, and earned a PhD in American Legal History from Regent University.

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