Upper Seven Law

UPPER SEVEN LAW IS A MONTANA-BASED NONPROFIT LAW FIRM DEDICATED TO HOLDING THE POWERFUL ACCOUNTABLE BY USING THE LAW CREATIVELY TO ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC INTEREST OBJECTIVES.

THE LITIGATION PROGRAM REPRESENTS INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON MATTERS REGARDING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, PUBLIC RECORDS, AND OTHER ABUSES. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE LITIGATION PROGRAM: SECURED A PERMANENT INJUNCTION OF SEVERAL VOTER SUPPRESSION LAWS PASSED DURING THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, RESTORING ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION, INVALIDATING ONEROUS VOTER ID LAWS, AND ALLOWING NEW VOTERS TO ACCESS THEIR BALLOTS BEFORE THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAYS; SECURED A PERMANENT INJUNCTION PREVENTING ENFORCEMENT OF A LAW PROHIBITING VOTER REGISTRATION ACTIVITIES IN CERTAIN SPACES ON PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES; PREVAILED UNDER THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT'S ONE-PERSON ONE-VOTE RULE BEFORE A FEDERAL THREE-JUDGE PANEL THAT ORDERED THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO USE A FAR MORE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED MAP IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS FOR MONTANA'S PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DISTRICTS; SETTLED A DEFAMATION CLAIM AGAINST A PUBLISHER OF SEVERAL EXTREMIST WEBSITES, SECURING A FINANCIAL AWARD, RETRACTION, AND APOLOGY FOR OUR CLIENT; LITIGATED TWO PENDING RIGHT TO KNOW CASES DEFENDING THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO EXAMINE DOCUMENTS AND OBSERVE DELIBERATIONS OF ALL PUBLIC BODIES AND STATE AGENCIES; LITIGATED A PENDING CASE CHALLENGING A LAW ALLOWING INSURANCE PROVIDERS TO DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF SEX AND MARITAL STATUS IN SETTING INSURANCE RATES; WROTE AND SUBMITTED AN AMICI CURIAE BRIEF TO THE US SUPREME COURT, ARGUING THAT RIGHTS SECURED UNDER FEDERAL LAWS--INCLUDING ESSENTIAL SAFETY-NET PROGRAMS--SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE PRIVATELY ENFORCEABLE UNDER SECTION 1983, REPRESENTING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAW, THE YOUTH LAW CENTER, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR LAW & ECONOMIC JUSTICE, ET AL.; REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS IN TWO CONTINUING JAIL-RELATED CASES: ONE CHALLENGING RAVALLI COUNTY'S PRETRIAL SERVICES PROGRAM THAT IMPOSES EXORBITANT FEES ON INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TRIED OR CONVICTED FOR ANY CRIME, AND ANOTHER CHALLENGING DANGEROUS, UNHYGIENIC, AND OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN THE LAKE COUNTY JAIL; EXPLORED LEGAL CHALLENGES ARISING FROM MEDIA DISINFORMATION AND DEFAMATION, ESPECIALLY CLAIMS AGAINST COMMENTATORS WHO CLOAK THEIR EXTREMISM IN DISINGENUOUS CLAIMS OF PRESENTING BALANCED PERSPECTIVES; INVESTIGATED CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS INJURED BY DRIFTING AGROCHEMICALS.