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AMERICAN FREEDOM LAW CENTER INC

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 452734488 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE I83 · Crime & Legal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.americanfreedomlawcenter.org
revenue
$431K
expenses
$743K
net assets
$533K
employees
4
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

TO FIGHT FOR FAITH AND FREEDOM BY ADVANCING AND DEFENDING AMERICA'S JUDEO-CHRISTIAN HERITAGE AND MORAL FOUNDATION THROUGH LITIGATION, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American Freedom Law Center (AFLC) is a nonprofit legal organization focused on defending constitutional rights and freedoms through litigation and advocacy. It represents clients in various legal battles, particularly those involving First Amendment rights and issues related to government overreach. AFLC operates primarily in the United States.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Legal Representation
Provides legal representation in cases involving constitutional rights, including First Amendment issues and government overreach.
Public Advocacy
Engages in public advocacy to raise awareness about legal issues affecting individual freedoms and rights.
activities · 3 clusters

what they do

  • Religious Liberty & Free Speech Litigation 6 activities
    • Advances pro-life and traditional family legal positions through appellate advocacy
      Argues cases before appellate courts to advance pro-life speech and traditional family values, including a successful California appellate case invalidating a ban on "grisly and gruesome" imagery and litigation supporting religious and familial rights.
    • Defends religious liberty and First Amendment rights in litigation
      Engages in litigation to protect religious liberty and free speech, including securing rulings that local government restrictions on religious expression and speech (such as displaying religious structures or photographing children in public parks) violate constitutional rights. Represents clients in federal and state appellate courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
    • Defends religious liberty and First Amendment rights in litigation
      Represents clients in state and federal courts to protect religious liberty and free speech, including challenges to government restrictions on religious expression and public speech. Achieved rulings such as the Sixth Circuit's affirmation allowing Catholic Healthcare International to hold religious gatherings and display religious structures, and a California appellate ruling striking down a ban on pro-life imagery.
    • Free speech litigation on behalf of individuals and organizations
      Represents clients in First Amendment cases challenging government censorship or discriminatory speech policies, including litigation over park photography ordinances, election-related speech, and prosecution of political expression.
    • Litigation to defend religious liberty and First Amendment rights
      Files and argues lawsuits in federal and state courts to protect religious expression, including challenges to government restrictions on religious displays, speech, and gatherings, such as cases involving Catholic Healthcare International and religious advertisements on public transit.
    • Pro-life and sanctity of life legal advocacy
      Advances legal protections for pro-life speech and expression, including challenging bans on graphic imagery in public spaces and litigating cases tied to the moral and constitutional defense of human life.
  • Civil Rights Litigation & Advocacy 6 activities
    • Challenges government actions on civil rights and constitutional grounds
      Files federal civil rights lawsuits challenging government policies and prosecutions, including those related to election integrity, use of "hate group" designations to target conservative groups, and local zoning or law enforcement actions. Litigates cases involving constitutional challenges to state ballot initiatives and prosecutorial conduct.
    • Challenges government actions perceived as targeting conservative or religious groups
      Files lawsuits against government entities for allegedly using tools like the SPLC "hate group" list to discriminate against conservative organizations, and challenges prosecutions believed to be politically motivated, such as those against Andrew Hess and Trump electors.
    • Federal civil rights litigation on behalf of individuals and businesses
      Files civil rights lawsuits in federal courts across multiple jurisdictions challenging local government actions, including police conduct, zoning decisions, and prosecutions perceived as politically motivated.
    • Legal representation in high-profile election and electoral college disputes
      Represents Trump electors in litigation arising from the 2020 presidential election, including defending against lawsuits filed by Biden electors and appealing adverse rulings in Michigan courts.
    • Represents Trump electors in election-related litigation
      Represents Trump/Pence electors in a civil lawsuit filed by Biden/Harris electors in Michigan, including filing appellate briefs and motions to defend against claims and appeal adverse rulings.
    • Represents Trump electors in post-2020 election litigation
      Represents five of the sixteen Trump/Pence electors in a civil lawsuit filed by Biden/Harris electors in Michigan, including filing appellate briefs and motions to dismiss claims lacking legal merit.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Family and adoption rights litigation
      Provides legal representation in child custody, adoption, and family rights cases, including securing a Supreme Court of Virginia ruling affirming the adoption of an Afghan child by a U.S. military-connected family.
    • Represents clients in child custody and adoption cases involving constitutional rights
      Provides legal representation in high-profile adoption and custody cases with constitutional dimensions, including securing a Supreme Court of Virginia ruling in favor of Joshua and Stephanie Mast in their adoption of an Afghan orphan, and representing Richard Mast in related federal litigation.
    • Represents individuals in high-profile family and adoption cases
      Provides legal representation in child custody and adoption cases involving constitutional and military-related circumstances, including securing a Supreme Court of Virginia ruling affirming the adoption of an Afghan orphan by a U.S. military family.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$431K
Contributions & grants$359K83%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2180%
Other revenue$72K
expenses
Total expenses$743K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$675K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$566K
Cash$248K
Investments$2K
Liabilities$33K
Net assets$533K
Liquid reserves4.0 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue -60.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ROBERT MUISE ESQ CO-PRESIDENT AND CO-CHAIRM 60 $267K
DAVID YERUSHALMI CO-PRESIDENT AND CO-CHAIRM 50 $225K
CYNTHIA PAGE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AN 40 $77K
board members · 3
  • GERARD V BRADLEY — TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR
  • GREGORY BITTERMAN — SECRETARY
  • JOSEPH E SCHMITZ — TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR
relationships · 21

who they work with

  • American Freedom Defensive Initiative (AFDI) Partner — Sponsored the "Leaving Islam" religious freedom ad that was the subject of the lawsuit.
  • Catholic Healthcare International, Inc. Partner — Represented in a religious freedom case against Genoa Township, Michigan.
  • Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR) Partner — AFLC filed a lawsuit on behalf of CBR and its Executive Director.
  • Center for Security Policy Partner — Frank Gaffney, Founder and President of the Center for Security Policy, serves on the organization's advisory board.
  • Dana Nessel Partner — Michigan Attorney General, against whom AFLC filed a lawsuit.
  • Genoa Township, Michigan Government — Opposing party in a religious freedom lawsuit.
  • Great Lakes Justice Center Partner — Co-counsel in a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging Michigan's Proposal 3.
  • Jere Palazzolo Partner — President of Catholic Healthcare International, Inc., represented in a religious freedom case.
  • Karen McDonald Partner — Oakland County Prosecutor who launched a prosecution against Andrew Hess, which AFLC is challenging.
  • Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) Partner — Organization against whom AFLC filed a lawsuit.
  • National Review Partner — Andrew C. McCarthy, a contributing editor at National Review, serves on the organization's advisory board.
  • National Review Institute (NRI) Partner — Andrew C. McCarthy, a senior fellow at the National Review Institute, serves on the organization's advisory board.
  • Richard Mast Partner — Represented by AFLC in ongoing federal litigation.
  • Robert Muise Partner — Co-Founder and Senior Counsel who argued the case on behalf of Sally Ness.
  • Sally Ness Partner — Client represented in a First Amendment case against the City of Bloomington, Minnesota.
  • Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Partner — Their "hate group" list is being used by the Michigan Attorney General and MDCR, which AFLC is challenging in a lawsuit.
  • Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) Partner — Opponent in a federal lawsuit challenging the refusal to display a religious freedom ad.
  • The Federalist Partner — Published a story highlighting a letter sent by the American Freedom Law Center to the Mayor of Dearborn, Michigan.
  • The Irvine Company Partner — AFLC filed a lawsuit against The Irvine Company.
  • United States Department of Defense Government — Joseph E. Schmitz, who served as Inspector General of the Department of Defense, serves on the organization's advisory board.
  • University of Notre Dame Partner — Gerard V. Bradley, a Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame, serves on the organization's advisory board.