Judicial Advocacy Initiative

Taking the Cancer Fight to the Courts

This initiative identifies lawsuits and regulatory actions that impact the fight against cancer and files "friend of the court" briefs or comments to advocate on behalf of cancer patients and survivors, and all people touched by this terrible disease. The work accomplished by the Judicial Advocacy Initiative is made possible by law firms who are recruited by ACS CAN and who donate services to support its mission.

Initiative Priorities

Court decisions can have a major impact on the fight against cancer. ACS CAN engages most frequently in cases affecting access to healthcare and tobacco control. JAI takes the fight against cancer to the courts, protecting the interests of the cancer community.

Our Supporters

The JAI receives pro bono assistance from 12 law firms: Anderson & Kreiger, Akin, Baker Donelson, Democracy Forward, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, K&L Gates, Hogan Lovells, Kilpatrick Townsend, Morrison & Foerster, Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer, and Zuckerman Spaeder. Their donated services leverage a multi-sector partnership for the common good. They provide specialized expertise in a wide range of areas, from writing comments to regulatory agencies that govern medical research to tobacco control litigation. Their commitment to JAI indicates that respected professionals in the legal establishment believe the program can make a difference.

Commemorating 15 Years of Judicial Advocacy

In August 2023 we celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Judicial Advocacy Initiative (JAI) . Read the full blog post to learn more.

Access to Care

December 9, 2024

Short-Term Limited Duration Plans

In 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a rule that could disrupt the health insurance market by extending for up to three years "short-term" policies that lack Affordable Care Act-guaranteed benefits.

December 4, 2024

Preventing Discrimination Against LGBTQ Individuals in Health Services

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability to individuals participating in any health program or activity that receives funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS issued a ru

October 21, 2024

Preserving Access to Preventive Services

A lawsuit filed in Texas challenges the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that require private insurers to cover preventive services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Health Services and Resources Admin

Tobacco Litigation

December 9, 2024

Venue for Flavored E-Cigarette Cases

ACS CAN worked with tobacco control partners in filing numerous amicus briefs supporting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in cases across the nation in which the agency issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) for flavored e-cigarette products as part of the premarket review process.

September 5, 2024

Supporting FDA in Marketing Denial Orders

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been issuing marketing denial orders (MDOs) for certain flavored e-cigarette products in accordance with Family Smoking and Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA).

April 17, 2024

Defending Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packs and Ads

ACS CAN and other tobacco control partners celebrated a huge public health victory when the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’

Healthy Eating and Active Living

April 16, 2018

Sugar-sweetened Beverages

Sugary drinks contribute to obesity, which is clearly associated with an increased risk of cancer development and recurrence, as well as decreased risk of survival, for many cancers. The city of Philadelphia enacted a tax on soda that was challenged in court.

October 31, 2017

San Francisco’s Law on Sugar-sweetened Beverage Advertising

Quality of Life

April 10, 2013

Protecting Cancer Survivors Against Discrimination

Comments Submitted to the EEOC

Medical Research

November 4, 2024

Supporting FDA Regulation of LDT's

Cancer patients rely on accurate and clinically valid diagnostic tests, which have become increasingly critical in the management of cancer.

May 24, 2013

Comments Submitted on Common Rule Sought to Ease Administrative Burden for Medical Researchers

The Office of Human Research Protections at the Department of Health and Human Services spent years considering changes to the Common Rule, which governs the conduct of medical research funded by 15 different federal agencies.

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