Amicus Curiae Committee

The APA Amicus Curiae Committee is one of the more visible parts of APA. It files "friend-of-the-court" briefs in state and federal courts in cases of importance to the planning profession and the public interest.

In recent years, APA supported the City of Morgan Hill, California's zoning ordinance against a RLUIPA challenge; the City of Glenn Heights, Texas's moratorium and rezoning actions against a takings challenge; and the City of Littleton, Colorado's adult business regulation against a First Amendment challenge.

The committee has been a standing committee of APA's Board of Directors since 1985 and includes distinguished attorneys and planners from around the country.

The Chair is Patricia E. Salkin, Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School.

The other members include:

Mark Bentley, AICP (Tampa, Florida)
Megan J. Cummings (Santa Monica, California)
Vivian Kahn, FAICP (Oakland, California)
Richard A. Lehmann, AICP (Madison, Wisconsin)
Deborah Rosenthal, AICP (Irvine, California)
Nancy Ellen Stroud, AICP (Boca Raton, Florida)
Edward J. Sullivan (Portland, Oregon)

In 1990, the APA Board of Directors adopted formal procedures for the committee that include involving APA chapters in the deliberations. To learn more about the activities of the Amicus Curiae Committee, please contact Lora Lucero, AICP, Esq.

B.J. Alan Company v. Congress Township Board of Zoning Appeals (2008)

Kyser v. Kasson Township (2008)
Supreme Court of Michigan

Kyser v. Kasson Township (2007)
Michigan Court of Appeals

Michigan Court of Appeals slip opinion in Kyser v. Kasson Township

Naser Jewelers, Inc. v. City of Concord (2007)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Naser Jewelers, Inc., v. City of Concord (January 2008)
U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Naser Jewelers, Inc., v. City of Concord (August 2008)

Trail v. Terrapin Run, LLC (2007)

Maryland Court of Appeals decision in Trail v. Terrapin Run, LLC

Wisconsin Realtors Association, Inc. v. Town of West Point (2007)

Court of Appeals of Wisconsin decision in Wisconsin Realtors Association, Inc. v. Town of West Point

Gardener v. Marion County Board of County Commissioners (2007)

Albuquerque Commons Partnership v. City Council (2007)

New Mexico Supreme Court decision in Albuquerque Commons Partnership v. City Council

Noghrey v. Town of Brookhaven (2007)

Supreme Court of the State of New York decision in Noghrey v. Town of Brookhaven

Wensmann Realty, Inc. v. City of Eagan (2006)

Minnesota Supreme Court decision in Wensmann Realty, Inc. v. City of Eagan

Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2006)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. United States Environmental Protection Agency

Get Outdoors, II, L.L.C. v City of Lemon Grove (2006)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Get Outdoors, II, L.L.C. v. City of Lemon Grove

Get Outdoors, II, L.L.C. v. City of Chula Vista (2006)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Get Outdoors, II, L.L.C. v. City of Chula Vista

Advantage Media, L.L.C. v. City of Eden Prairie (2006)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Advantage Media, L.L.C. v. City of Eden Prairie

Get Outdoors, II, L.L.C. v. City of San Diego (2006)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Get Outdoors, II, L.L.C. v. City of San Diego

Prime Media, Inc. v. City of Brentwood (2006)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Prime Media, Inc. v. City of Brentwood

Tanner Advertising Group, LLC v. Fayette County (2006)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Tanner Advertising Group, LLC v. Fayette County

Rapanos v. United States (2006)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in Rapanos v. United States

MacPherson v. Department of Administrative Services (2005)

Oregon Supreme Court decision in MacPherson v. Department of Administrative Services

City of Norwood v. Horney (2005)

Ohio Supreme Court decision in City of Norwood v. Horney
APA Fact Sheet on Norwood
Link to video of oral arguments

Coast Range Conifers, LLC v. State of Oregon (2005)

Oregon Supreme Court decision in Coast Range Conifers, LLC v. State of Oregon

Granite State Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. Cobb County (2005)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Granite State Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. Cobb County

Advantage Advertising, L.L.C. v. City of Hoover (2005)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Advantage Advertising, L.L.C. v. City of Hoover

City of Ocean Springs v. Homebuilders Association of Mississippi, Inc. (2005)

Mississippi Supreme Court decision in City of Ocean Springs v. Homebuilders Association of Mississippi, Inc.

San Remo Hotel, L.P. v. City and County of San Francisco (2005)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in San Remo Hotel, L.P. v City and County of San Francisco
Click here for the news release

Cutter v. Wilkinson (2005)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in Cutter v. Wilkinson

Elsinore Christian Center v. City of Lake Elsinore (2005)

Kelo v. City of New London (2005)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London

Smith v. Town of Mendon (2004)

New York Court of Appeals decision in Smith v. Town of Mendon

Coliseum Square Association, Inc. v. Jackson (2004)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Coliseum Square Association, Inc. v. Jackson

Bechen v. Moody County Board of Commissioners (2004)

South Dakota Supreme Court decision in Bechen v. Moody County Board of Commissioners

Just v. City of Lebanon (2004)

Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (2004)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in Lingle v. Chevron U.S.A., Inc

City of Rancho Palos Verdes v. Abrams (2004)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in City of Rancho Palos Verdes v. Abrams

Trinity Outdoor, L.L.C. v. City of Rockville (2004)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Trinity Outdoor, L.L.C. v. City of Rockville

National Advertising Company v. City of Miami (2004) (docket 03-15593-DD)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in National Advertising Company v. City of Miami (03-15593)

National Advertising Company v. City of Miami (2004) (docket 03-15516-GG)

U.S. Court of Appeals decision in National Advertising Company v. City of Miami (03-15516)

Albuquerque Commons Partnership v. City Council (2003)

New Mexico Court of Appeals decision in Albuquerque Commons Partnership v. City Council

City of Littleton v. Z.J. Gifts D-4, LLC (2003)

Supreme Court decision in City of Littleton v. Z.J. Gifts D-4, LLC

McCarran International Airport v. Sisolak (2003)

Nevada Supreme Court decision in McCarran International Airport v. Sisolak

Town of Flower Mound v. Stafford Estates Limited Partnership (2003)

County of Clark v. Tien Fu Hsu (2002)

Gardner v. County of Sonoma (2002)

Emmett McLoughlin Realty, Inc. v. Pima County (2002)

San Jose Christian College v. City of Morgan Hill (2002)

League of Oregon Cities v. State of Oregon (2002)

Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
(U.S. Supreme Court) (2001)

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency v. Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc.
(Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals) (2001)

City of Los Angeles v. Alameda Books, Inc. (2001)

Palazzolo v. State of Rhode Island (2001)

Toll Brothers v. Township of West Windsor (2001)

Lorillard Tobacco Co. v. Reilly (2001)

City of Monterey v. Del Monte Dunes at Monterey, Ltd. (1997)

Suitum v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (1997)

U.S. Supreme Court decision in Suitum v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency