No. 25-1002

Rajeh A. Saadeh v. New Jersey State Bar Association

Lower Court: New Jersey
Docketed: 2026-02-24
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Experienced Counsel
Tags: antidiscrimination-law constitutional-rights diversity-programs equal-protection first-amendment free-speech-clause
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

A bar association reserves leadership positions for members of specific minority groups. These set-asides violate the State's antidiscrimination law. But below, the court deemed this otherwise illegal discrimination protected by the First Amendment because the setasides help "express " the bar association's commitment to "diversity." The question presented is:

Whether the First Amendment overrides antidiscrimination laws when the discrimination furthers the defendant's views about "diversity, " "equity," or "inclusion."

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the First Amendment overrides antidiscrimination laws when discrimination furthers the defendant's views about diversity, equity, or inclusion

Docket Entries

2026-02-13
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 26, 2026)
2026-01-09
Application (25A626) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until February 16, 2026.
2026-01-06
Application (25A626) to extend further the time from January 17, 2026 to February 16, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.
2025-12-01
Application (25A626) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until January 17, 2026.
2025-11-24
Application (25A626) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 18, 2025 to January 20, 2026, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Rajeh A. Saadeh
Cameron Thomas NorrisConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Petitioner