History of the SLF

2002 - SLF joins as chief funder, co-counsel and plaintiff in the omnibus constitutional challenge against McCain-Feingold's so-called campaign finance reform." U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, chief plaintiff, heads a list of 84 plaintiffs challenging free speech and freedom of association violations in the new law. SLF pursues state and federal legal action against U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) for election law violations stemming from Election Day 2000. SLF wins a federal lawsuit against the City of Charlotte, NC's unconstitutional race-quota program for public contracting, adding to the list of similar successes in Atlanta, Jacksonville, FL, Nashville, TN, Richmond, VA, and against the University of Georgia race-based admissions policy.

2001 - In January, Bill Clinton becomes the first sitting U.S. President to lose his law license as a result of a formal bar complaint. Based on SLF's complaint and the contempt citation issued by federal district court Judge Susan Webber Wright, Clinton signs an agreed order of discipline with Independent Counsel Robert Ray and Arkansas authorities suspending his license for five years (a period of time tantamount to disbarment). This action, taken the day before Clinton leaves office on January 19, is the only significant penalty faced by Clinton apart from U.S. House impeachment. During the summer, the City of Atlanta, after spending more than $2 million defending its illegal quota program for public contracts, abandons its illegal program and settles with the plaintiffs for an undisclosed amount. SLF, under the leadership of President Phil Kent, launches a legal and policy effort to stop amnesty proposals and driver's licenses for illegal aliens. Joined by former Independent Counsel Ken Starr and former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese, SLF prepares a litigation effort to stop unconstitutional free speech violations in McCain-Feingold/ Shays-Meehan so-called "campaign finance reform." The Foundation sues the City of Atlanta over its illegal misappropriation of more than $20 million in impact fees paid by developers.

2000 - In January, the Arkansas Supreme Court unanimously orders the state's legal ethics committee to proceed with SLF's complaint against Clinton. The committee serves the White House with two formal complaints in February. SLF argues in favor of a widow's right to responsibly harvest timber on her property in the Virginia Supreme Court, an important property rights case. In March, on the deadline day for responding to the formal legal ethics complaints, Clinton requests a year-long extension until he has left office, which the Arkansas committee rejects and instead orders Clinton to formally respond by April 21. In May, the Committee votes to initiate disbarment proceedings against Clinton, marking the first time in U.S. history that a sitting President faces court action which may result in the loss of the license to practice law. In June, the Committee’s appointed prosecutor files formal disbarment action against Clinton in Pulaski County, Arkansas Circuit Court. In December, the City of Atlanta voluntarily abandons constitutional defense of its quota program for public contracts under court order. More than 115,000 annual contributors support SLF’s activities, while 2 million people are expected to visit SLF’s web site.

1999 - In January, SLF wins decisive census victory in U.S. Supreme Court, which holds that sampling is constitutionally prohibited for purposes of congressional apportionment (Glavin, et al v. Clinton, et al). Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes signs into law the largest tax cut in state history, a $1 billion, 4-year moratorium in the state’s Unemployment Insurance tax, a plan authored by SLF. In August, SLF files a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the City of Atlanta’s program for public contracting, which sets aside 34 percent of all contracts for minorities. At the same time, SLF publishes a Special Report on Race-Neutral Alternative Affirmative Action Programs, which outlines legal programs used in cities across the nation. Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell makes national news for his violent rhetoric in response to the lawsuit. In December, SLF files a petition with the Arkansas Supreme Court, asking the court to order the state’s legal ethics committee to proceed with consideration of its complaint against attorney Clinton. Annual supporters top 110,000, and more than 1 million people visit SLF’s web site.

1998 - SLF unemployment insurance tax cut efforts top $750 million in Southeast. Foundation launches landmark challenge on census against Clinton administration. Federal court challenge against Atlanta Schools set-aside program results in comprehensive settlement and elimination of race-based programs. SLF files the first legal ethics complaint against attorney Bill Clinton with the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct, alleging lying under oath and obstruction of justice in the Paula Jones legal matter. Annual supporters number 96,000 nationwide.

1997 - Based on SLF policy reports, five Southeastern states slash unemployment insurance taxes by more than $600 million dollars. Foundation contributors rise from 5,000 to more than 85,000, as SLF appears in national publications, television, and radio. Important federal court challenge against Atlanta affirmative action program, Prior Tire Co. v. City of Atlanta School District, results in preliminary ruling invalidating three-fourths of City's plan. SLF plans national lawsuit challenging Clinton's administration's Census 2000 plan as unconstitutional.

1996 - SLF lawsuit challenging Georgia's intangibles tax provokes leads to elimination of $40 million a year tax. SLF policy report of Georgia's bloated unemployment insurance tax fund results in tax cut of $65 million a year. The Wall Street Journal and others credit SLF with $105 million in tax cuts this year alone. SLF agrees to represent retired FBI agent and author of best-selling Unlimited Access: An FBI Agent Inside the Clinton White House, Gary Aldrich, in threatened Justice Department lawsuit challenging his first amendment right to publish his book.

1995 - Georgia Supreme Court strikes down Atlanta's ordinance granting benefits to unmarried and gay partners of City employees in important SLF case. Foundation joins lawsuit against local school district to protect parental rights, Earls v. Stephens County School District, which touches off congressional hearings and sparks national debate.

1994 - SLF garners national attention by entering lawsuit to enforce Georgia tuition voucher statute. In important U.S. Supreme Court decision, Dolan v. City of Tigard, SLF successfully argues as amicus that government mandates to set aside private property for public use violates constitutional private property rights.

1993 - SLF won an important U.S. Supreme Court decision representing Associated General Contractors against the City of Jacksonville, Florida. The Court established that a qualified bidder on a public contract has standing to challenge an unfair set-aside program without suffering actual monetary damages.

1992 - U.S. Supreme Court decision described by legal scholars as "one of the most important this century," Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, ensured just compensation when government regulation "takes" the full value of private property. Mr. Lucas praises SLF's briefs as instrumental to his success.

1990 - As part of a landmark case, SLF argued on behalf of a group of black parents in DeKalb County, Georgia that the 20-year old federal school desegregation order had gone too far with forced busing. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed that forced busing was not the proper remedy for alleged past discriminations, and that quality of education should instead be the focus of such policies, Freeman v. Pitts.

1989 - U.S. Supreme Court strikes down unconstitutional race-based set-asides for local and state government public contracts in landmark City of Richmond v. Croson. SLF assists Virginia counsel and submits important amicus briefs.

1988 - Arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court should apply the same strict review standard to the racial preference policies of the FCC as applied in the federal appeal of Croson, which covered local and state government contract racial preferences. This decision, Astroline Communications v. Shurberg Broadcasting, lays groundwork for the high Court's Croson decision, and foreshadows the application to federal programs in Adarand Construction v. Pena.

1987 - SLF successfully argued for the lifting of a protective order prohibiting access to raw data on the enforcement of Georgia's death penalty in a race-neutral manner. The U.S. Supreme Court held that, in light of the accurate data, Georgia's courts were not enforcing the death penalty in a racially discriminatory manner, McCleskey v. Kemp.

1986 - SLF represents Cross Creek, Florida residents against state and local government attempts to create a "public use" area on their property without compensation. In response to lengthy litigation, Florida revives land use regulations in favor of property owners.

1984 - SLF responded to concerned Georgia taxpayers by drafting a proposed amendment to the state constitution, which closed costly loopholes in the public pension system. The amendment was overwhelmingly approved by the state's voters.

1983 - SLF filed suit against the ACLU for invading the privacy of a family with unfounded legal proceedings, which focused national attention on a private, voluntary drug dependency program.

1982 - SLF filed on of the nation's first lawsuits challenging U.S. Department of Justice authority to mandate legislative redistricting in opposition to state constitutional provisions, Cavanaugh v. Brock.

1981 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld SLF's successful district court argument that part of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act limiting independent organization participation impermissibly interfered with political free speech, Common Cause v. Schmitt, FEC v. Americans for Change.

1980 - When the U.S. Forest Service withdrew from use 31,000 acres in North Carolina, SLF argued in federal court on behalf of sportsmen, environmentalists and forest products interests that the wilderness management violated legitimate interests in the land.

1979 - SLF filed formal comments with the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) objecting to affirmative action requirements applied to small businesses and to requirements saddling all business with costly compliance burdens. OFCCP eased administrative burdens on small businesses and subcontractors.

1978 - SLF successfully argued for limitations on the Endangered Species Act when the Tellico Dam-TVA project was halted to protect the snail darter. Along with attorneys for the Commonwealth of Virginia, SLF successfully ended 48 years of the U.S. Labor Department's non-reviewable use of the Davis-Bacon Act, which set minimum wages for federal projects.

1976 - A group of conservative business and civic leaders meet in Atlanta, Georgia to form the Southeastern Legal Foundation. Former U.S. Representative Ben Blackburn of Georgia is named the first President.