News Release
For Immediate Release: 2.12.25
Contact: Natalie Konstans, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Diverse Groups Urge Supreme Court to Hear Parent’s Appeal to Represent Child In Court
Several amicus briefs have been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of Blake Warner, a father seeking to assert pro se claims on behalf of his child.
Washington, DC—Several institutions including American Hindu Coalition, Manhattan Institute, Advancing American Freedom, and Capability Consulting, a business group dedicated to disability education, have filed “friend-of-the-court” briefs in Warner v. Hillsborough County School Board, urging the Supreme Court of the United States to reverse a lower court decision that prohibits parents from representing their children pro se unless they are an attorney.
“Preventing parents from representing their children is a denial of their fundamental parental rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” said First Liberty’s Executive General Counsel Hiram Sasser. “Parents know what is best for their children and should be able to represent them in court.”
Blake Warner is the parent of a minor child who attended public school in Hillsborough County, Florida. After alleging that the Hillsborough County School Board engaged in racially discriminatory districting practices, Mr. Warner filed two lawsuits pro se in federal court on behalf of himself and his child, J.W. Despite this, Mr. Warner was told that he cannot act pro se unless he is an attorney. Therefore, he has no right to plead the child’s case before the court, and, as a result, his child’s claim will be dismissed if he cannot afford to hire counsel.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Natalie Konstans at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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