Jay Alan Sekulow
Encyclopedia
Jay Alan Sekulow is an American
attorney
and radio talkshow host.
, receiving both a bachelor's degree and a doctor of jurisprudence while serving as an editorial staff member of the Mercer Law Review. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University
, authoring his dissertation on the subject of American Legal History.
, Sekulow worked in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service
as a tax trial attorney, bringing suits in the United States Tax Court
on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury.
In 1990, Sekulow became the director of The American Center for Law and Justice where he currently serves as Chief Counsel.
, as well as XM and Sirius
. This live call-in program focuses on legal and legislative battles currently underway across America, occasionally featuring in-studio guests such as Jackie Mason
and Chuck Colson.
and Daystar.
John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court
. In 2007, Sekulow endorsed Mitt Romney
's presidential campaign.
and their clash with Los Angeles International Airport
’s policy against free speech, Sekulow has focused on religious liberty cases before the court. He has specialized in arguing key issues of the First Amendment
, arguing with opponents such as current Chief Justice
John Roberts, the Deputy Solicitor General at the time.
In addition to his work as a Supreme Court advocate, Sekulow, as lead counsel of the ACLJ, has submitted several amicus briefs in support of conservative issues. He has submitted amicus briefs in landmark cases such as Hamdi v. Rumsfeld
, Rasul v. Bush
, Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood, and Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation
. His amicus briefs for Van Orden v. Perry
and Wisconsin Right to Life v. FEC were cited by Justices John Paul Stevens
and John Roberts respectively. Sekulow served as counsel to Robert and Mary Schindler during the controversy surrounding their daughter, Terri Schiavo
. While he is widely acknowledged as a member of the Christian Right
, Sekulow’s amicus brief in Morse v. Frederick was in support of the ACLU’s position; he argued that schools banning “offensive” speech would also be able to prohibit religious speech with which the administrators disagree.
Sekulow again argued before the Supreme Court on November 12, 2008 in Pleasant Grove City v Summum, case No.07-665. Sekulow represented the City in this case concerning government control over monument
s and memorials in government-owned public places. On Feb. 24th the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in the City's favor. On March 2, 2009, the Supreme Court issued a summary disposition in the companion case of Summum v Duchesne City. The Court was again unanimous, vacating the 10th Circuit opinion and remanding the case for an opinion consistent with Pleasant Grove City v Summum.
’s Public Sector 45, a list dedicated to legal public servants who have made the most impact in their respective fields. Following this accolade, the National Law Journal placed Dr. Sekulow in their highly coveted 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America list. Most recently, Legal Times
profiled him as one of the 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 years, solidifying his place as one of the most renowned legal professionals in the United States today.
published an article in which it was alleged that Sekulow "through the ACLJ and a string of interconnected nonprofit and for-profit entities, has built a financial empire that generates millions of dollars a year and supports a lavish lifestyle—complete with multiple homes, chauffeur-driven cars, and a private jet that he once used to ferry Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
." The article quotes a number of former donors and supporters (none identified by name) who claim that Sekulow has engaged in a pattern of self-dealing to finance his "high-flying lifestyle." And, according to a ranking by the American Institute of Philanthropy
, a charity watchdog group, Sekulow is the 13th-highest-paid executive of a charitable organization in the United States if the given figure for his salary is accurate.
, New York. Sekulow and his wife Pamela, who have been married since 1978 and have two adult sons, Jordan and Logan. Jordan is an attorney with the ACLJ and Director of International Operations. He also co-hosts the radio and television programming with his father. Logan oversees the ACLJ’s multi-media operations.
Sekulow was raised Jewish, but converted to Christianity in college and now considers himself a Messianic Jew.
Sekulow also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society
in Washington, DC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and radio talkshow host.
Education
Sekulow graduated cum laude from Mercer UniversityMercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, receiving both a bachelor's degree and a doctor of jurisprudence while serving as an editorial staff member of the Mercer Law Review. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University
Regent University
Regent University is a private coeducational interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. The school was founded by the American televangelist Pat Robertson in 1978 as Christian Broadcasting Network University. A satellite campus located in...
, authoring his dissertation on the subject of American Legal History.
Career
As a young lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Sekulow worked in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
as a tax trial attorney, bringing suits in the United States Tax Court
United States Tax Court
The United States Tax Court is a federal trial court of record established by Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, section 8 of which provides that the Congress has the power to "constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court"...
on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury.
In 1990, Sekulow became the director of The American Center for Law and Justice where he currently serves as Chief Counsel.
Radio
In addition to his duties as Chief Counsel for the ACLJ, Sekulow hosts Jay Sekulow Live!, a syndicated daily radio program that airs on nearly 850 stations nationwide, broadcast on terrestrial radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, as well as XM and Sirius
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
. This live call-in program focuses on legal and legislative battles currently underway across America, occasionally featuring in-studio guests such as Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason is an American stand-up comedian and movie actor.-Early life:Born Yacov Moshe Maza in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City....
and Chuck Colson.
Television
Sekulow is the host of ACLJ This Week, a weekly television news program broadcast on TBNTrinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
and Daystar.
Politics
Sekulow is speculated to have been one of the "Four Horsemen" who "engineered" the nomination of Chief JusticeChief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. In 2007, Sekulow endorsed Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
's presidential campaign.
Cases before the Supreme Court
Sekulow has argued in front of the United States Supreme Court multiple times throughout his career. Beginning in 1987 with a case involving Jews for JesusJews for Jesus
Jews for Jesus is a conservative, Christian evangelical organization that focuses on the conversion of Jews to Christianity. Its members consider themselves to be Jews – either as defined by Jewish law, or as according to the view of Jews for Jesus. Jews for Jesus defines “Jewish” in terms of...
and their clash with Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
’s policy against free speech, Sekulow has focused on religious liberty cases before the court. He has specialized in arguing key issues of the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
, arguing with opponents such as current Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
John Roberts, the Deputy Solicitor General at the time.
| Case: | Date: | Argument: | Result: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Airport Commissioners v. Jews for Jesus | 1987 | Arguing on behalf of Jews for Jesus, Sekulow argued that LAX’s policy banning all “First Amendment activities” violated the organization’s right to free speech. | Judgment for Jews for Jesus. |
| Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens | 1990 | Sekulow argued on behalf of students who were denied their request to form a Bible and Prayer Christian A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament... club at their school. |
Judgment for the Students. |
| U.S. v. Kokinda. | 1990 | Sekulow argued on behalf of two volunteers of the National Democratic Policy Committee who were arrested after refusing to leave the sidewalk near a post office Post office A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies... . |
Judgment for the United States |
| Lee v. ISKCON | 1992 | Sekulow served as co-counsel, arguing on behalf of ISKCON against a regulation that prohibited distribution of literature Literature Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources... in airport terminals Airport terminal An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft.... . |
Judgment for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. |
| Bray v. Alexandria Women’s Health Clinic | 1993 | Sekulow argued on behalf of anti-abortion activists Activism Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing... who were originally found as violating a statute by conducting demonstrations at abortion clinic Abortion clinic An abortion clinic is a medical facility that primarily performs or specializes in abortions. Such clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices.-Canada:*There were 197 abortion providers in Canada in 2001.... s. |
Judgment for the Activists. |
| Lamb’s Chapel v. Center Moriches Moriches, New York Moriches is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 2,319 at the 2000 census.Moriches is served by the William Floyd School District.... School District |
1993 | In another case involving use of school School A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools... property, Sekulow represented Lamb’s Chapel, and their right to show religious-oriented films in a school after-hours. |
Judgment for the Church Church Body A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status... . |
| Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York, 519 U.S. 357 , was a case heard before the United States Supreme Court. It ruled in an 8-1 decision that speech-free "buffer zones" around abortion clinics were constitutional... |
1997 | Sekulow argued on behalf of Schenck, challenging a District court ruling that provided for speech-free floating “bubble zones” surrounding abortion clinics. | Judgment for Schenck. |
| Hill v. Colorado | 2000 | This case revolved around protesters’ rights to distribute literature in front of abortion clinics and a statute that barred them from approaching a non-consenting Consent Consent refers to the provision of approval or agreement, particularly and especially after thoughtful consideration.- Types of consent :*Implied consent is a controversial form of consent which is not expressly granted by a person, but rather inferred from a person's actions and the facts and... person. Sekulow, representing the protesters, argued that Colorado's “eight foot rule” was unconstitutional. |
Judgment for Colorado. |
| Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe | 2000 | Sekulow, representing the school district, argued that prayer Prayer Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of... , initiated and led by students at football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... games, did not violate the Establishment Clause. |
Judgment for Doe. |
| McConnell v. FEC | 2003 | In a highly publicized case, Sekulow, on behalf of a group of students including Emily Echols Emily Echols Emily Echols , as a 13 year old, was a lead plaintiff witness in the United States Supreme Court case McConnell v. Federal Election Commission, attracting nationwide attention... , argued that a portion of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 violated the First Amendment and was thus unconstitutional. |
Judgment for Echols, et al. |
| Locke v. Davey Locke v. Davey Locke v. Davey, , is a United States Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of a Washington publicly funded scholarship program which excluded students pursuing a "degree in theology." This case examined the "room.... |
2003 | Sekulow, representing student Joshua Davey, argued that a statute excluding theology Theology Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo... students from publicly funded scholarships was unconstitutional. |
Judgment for Locke. |
| Pleasant Grove City Pleasant Grove, Utah Pleasant Grove, also known as "Utah's City of Trees", is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 33,798 at the 2008 census estimates.-History:... v. Summum |
2008 | Sekulow, representing the city of Pleasant Grove, challenged a Tenth Circuit opinion allowing Summum Summum Summum is a religion and philosophy that began in 1975 as a result of Claude "Corky" Nowell's claimed encounter with beings he described as "Summa Individuals"... to erect a monument alongside a Ten Commandments Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,... monument donated to the city by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Fraternal Order of Eagles Fraternal Order of Eagles International is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington by a group of six theater owners including John Cort , brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry Leavitt , Mose Goldsmith and Arthur Williams... . |
Judgment for Pleasant Grove City. |
In addition to his work as a Supreme Court advocate, Sekulow, as lead counsel of the ACLJ, has submitted several amicus briefs in support of conservative issues. He has submitted amicus briefs in landmark cases such as Hamdi v. Rumsfeld
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507 was a U.S. Supreme Court decision reversing the dismissal of a habeas corpus petition brought on behalf of Yaser Esam Hamdi, a U.S. citizen being detained indefinitely as an "illegal enemy combatant." The Court recognized the power of the government to detain enemy...
, Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush
Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision establishing that the U.S. court system has the authority to decide whether foreign nationals held in Guantanamo Bay were wrongfully imprisoned...
, Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood, and Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation
Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation
Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, 551 U.S. 587 , was a decision by the United States Supreme Court which ruled that taxpayers do not have the right to challenge the constitutionality of expenditures by the executive branch of the government....
. His amicus briefs for Van Orden v. Perry
Van Orden v. Perry
Van Orden v. Perry, 545 U.S. 677 was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States of America, involving whether a display of the Ten Commandments on a monument given to the government at the Texas State Capitol in Austin violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.In a...
and Wisconsin Right to Life v. FEC were cited by Justices John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from December 19, 1975 until his retirement on June 29, 2010. At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest member of the Court and the third-longest serving justice in the Court's history...
and John Roberts respectively. Sekulow served as counsel to Robert and Mary Schindler during the controversy surrounding their daughter, Terri Schiavo
Terri Schiavo
The Terri Schiavo case was a legal battle in the United States between the legal guardians and the parents of Teresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo that lasted from 1998 to 2005...
. While he is widely acknowledged as a member of the Christian Right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
, Sekulow’s amicus brief in Morse v. Frederick was in support of the ACLU’s position; he argued that schools banning “offensive” speech would also be able to prohibit religious speech with which the administrators disagree.
Sekulow again argued before the Supreme Court on November 12, 2008 in Pleasant Grove City v Summum, case No.07-665. Sekulow represented the City in this case concerning government control over monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
s and memorials in government-owned public places. On Feb. 24th the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in the City's favor. On March 2, 2009, the Supreme Court issued a summary disposition in the companion case of Summum v Duchesne City. The Court was again unanimous, vacating the 10th Circuit opinion and remanding the case for an opinion consistent with Pleasant Grove City v Summum.
Awards and Accomplishments
Sekulow has been honored numerous times throughout his career. In 1994, he was named to the National Law Journal’s Power List, which highlights some of the most prolific attorneys in America. In 1997, he was named to the American LawyerThe American Lawyer
The American Lawyer is a monthly law magazine published by ALM. It was founded in 1979 by Steven Brill. Features include the annual AmLaw 100 Survey and AmLaw 200 Survey , "The View From the Top", their annual poll of law firm chairpersons, and their "Corporate Scorecard"...
’s Public Sector 45, a list dedicated to legal public servants who have made the most impact in their respective fields. Following this accolade, the National Law Journal placed Dr. Sekulow in their highly coveted 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America list. Most recently, Legal Times
Legal Times
Legal Times is a weekly legal newspaper based in Washington, D.C. It is owned by ALM....
profiled him as one of the 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 years, solidifying his place as one of the most renowned legal professionals in the United States today.
Criticism
In November 2005, Legal TimesLegal Times
Legal Times is a weekly legal newspaper based in Washington, D.C. It is owned by ALM....
published an article in which it was alleged that Sekulow "through the ACLJ and a string of interconnected nonprofit and for-profit entities, has built a financial empire that generates millions of dollars a year and supports a lavish lifestyle—complete with multiple homes, chauffeur-driven cars, and a private jet that he once used to ferry Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia
Antonin Scalia
Antonin Gregory Scalia is an American jurist who serves as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. As the longest-serving justice on the Court, Scalia is the Senior Associate Justice...
." The article quotes a number of former donors and supporters (none identified by name) who claim that Sekulow has engaged in a pattern of self-dealing to finance his "high-flying lifestyle." And, according to a ranking by the American Institute of Philanthropy
American Institute of Philanthropy
The American Institute of Philanthropy is a 501 nonprofit organization, created in the United States by Daniel Borochoff in 1992, to provide information about charities' financial efficiency, accountability, governance, and fundraising. Its official website is known as...
, a charity watchdog group, Sekulow is the 13th-highest-paid executive of a charitable organization in the United States if the given figure for his salary is accurate.
Personal
Jay Sekulow was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York. Sekulow and his wife Pamela, who have been married since 1978 and have two adult sons, Jordan and Logan. Jordan is an attorney with the ACLJ and Director of International Operations. He also co-hosts the radio and television programming with his father. Logan oversees the ACLJ’s multi-media operations.
Sekulow was raised Jewish, but converted to Christianity in college and now considers himself a Messianic Jew.
Sekulow also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society
Supreme Court Historical Society
The Supreme Court Historical Society is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and communicating the history of the U.S. Supreme Court.-History:...
in Washington, DC.
Publications
- 1990: From Intimidation to Victory, Creation House
- 1993: Knowing Your Rights: Taking Back Our Religious Liberties
- 1996: And Nothing But the Truth
- 1997: Christian Rights in the Workplace, The American Center for Law and Justice
- 2000: The Christian, The Court, and The Constitution, The American Center for Law and Justice
- 2005: Witnessing Their Faith: Religious Influence on Supreme Court Justices and Their Opinions, Rowman & Littlefield