State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) is a legal policy advocacy group that supports the advocacy of state and local governments before federal appellate courts, especially the Supreme Court of the United States. It files amicus (“friend-of-the-court”) briefs to the Supreme Court on behalf of state and local governments. ¹ It also conducts moot (practice) courts for attorneys arguing before the Supreme Court and assists states and local governments on the Supreme Court. ²

It is operated and maintained by the Staff Advisory Council, chaired by the National Conference of State Legislatures,³ which represents the legislatures in the states, territories, and commonwealths of the U.S. ⁴ The Staff Advisory Council, which is made up of representatives of SLLC members and associate members, votes on participation in cases. ⁵

The SLLC operates on behalf of the “Big Seven” state and local government advocacy groups: the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, and International City/County Management Association.

Activity

​Since 1983, the State and Local Legal Center has filed over 400 amicus briefs in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Big Seven state and local government advocacy groups. ⁶ The International City/County Management Association (ICMA), representing professional appointed local government administrators, including city and county managers, department heads, and assistant managers, and other Big Seven organizations review the briefs and provide signatory support. ⁷

SLLC supports the Council of State Governments,⁸ a nonprofit that serves all three branches of state government by sharing ideas with state officials to shape public policy. ⁹

SLLC regularly hosts webinars focused on the briefs it has submitted, often with the attorneys who argued the cases participating and explaining offering more detail. The webinars also provide information about the Supreme Court and share the SLLC’s standing on certain issues. The past webinars are available for review. ¹⁰

Lisa Soronen, SLLC’s executive director, regularly writes for various organizations, including National Conference of State Legislatures’ blog, Council of State Governments’ Knowledge Center, National League of Cities’ CitiesSpeak, International City/County Management Association’s blog, and International Municipal Lawyers Association’s Appellate Practice blog. ¹¹

SLLC held a webinar highlighting the most impactful cases from the U.S. Supreme Court for that term and their effect on state and local governments. One speaker, Paul Clement, argued cases surrounding the Affordable Care Act, Arizona immigration, and Texas redistricting. The other guest speaker, Patricia Millett, argued three cases that impacted state and local governments during that term. ¹² Past webinar topics have included excessive force, homelessness, environment issues, net neutrality, and redistricting cases in which SLLC has been involved. ¹³

Lisa Soronen moderated the International Municipal Lawyers Association’s 2020 Mid-Year Virtual Seminar. It was moved online due to the Coronavirus pandemic. ¹⁴

Briefs and Opinions

In 2018, SLLC submitted a variety of amicus briefs in cases ranging in topic from Tennessee’s alcohol licensing law, property rights, Virginia and the Atomic Energy Act, Title VII, the Eighth Amendment, and the Employment Act. ¹⁵

Immigration

SLLC executive director Lisa Soronen authored an article outlining legal possibilities for cities that would consider suing the federal government to overturn President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting states and localities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The executive order stated that so-called “sanctuary cities” would not be eligible to receive federal funding. SLLC presented three possibilities under which cities could sue the federal government. ¹⁶

Net Neutrality

SLLC supports so-called “net neutrality” regulations and looks for ways to help cities and states challenge the federal government’s repeal of the FCC’s Title II regulations. However, in 2019, on Mozilla Corporation v. FCC, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a portion of the FCC’s 2018 order withdraw from net neutrality. SLLC created a webinar, which the National League of Cities hosted, in December 2019 that explained the case, how it impacts cities, and ways local governments can pursue net neutrality. ¹⁷

Financials

SLLC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation. ¹⁸ It received $256,311 in government grants in 2017. ¹⁹

Lisa Soronen has been the executive director of SLLC since 2011. Previously, she was a senior staff attorney at the National Schoolboards Association. ²⁰ In 2018, Lisa Soronen received $194,158 in commission from SLLC. ²¹

National League of Cities

National League of Cities advocates for U.S. cities and their leaders, working closely with State and Local Legal Center. Clarence Anthony, executive director of the National League of Cities, is the current SLLC board chair. ²²

Lisa Soronen is a frequent contributor to CitiesSpeak, an online blog by the National League of Cities. It is here that she shares the State and Local Legal Center’s opinion or where she discusses information about the Supreme Court. ²³

1. King, Pamela. “5 Things to Know About Tomorrow’s Supreme Court Face-Off.” E&E News. November 5, 2019. Accessed May 26, 2020. https://www.eenews.net/stories/1061470127
2. About. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 27, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/about
3. State & Local Legal Center. ICMA. Accessed May 21, 2020. https://icma.org/state-local-legal-center
4. About Us – Our Mission. National Conference of State Legislatures. Accessed May 21, 2020. https://www.ncsl.org/aboutus.aspx
5. About. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 27, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/about
6. About. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 22, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/about
7. State & Local Legal Center. ICMA. Accessed May 21, 2020. https://icma.org/state-local-legal-center
8. State and Local Legal Center, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2017, Part I Line 12, 26, and 16.
9. About. The Council of State Governments. Accessed May 21, 2020. https://www.csg.org/about/default.aspx
10. Events. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 27, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/events
11. Publications. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 27, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/publications
12. Article. National League of Cities. May 21, 2012. Accessed May 22, 2020. https://www.nlc.org/article/upcoming-webinar-state-and-local-legal-center-on-recent-supreme-court-cases
13. Events. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 27, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/events
14. Golde, Kalvis. “Event announcement: International Municipal Lawyers Association – 2020 Mid-Year Virtual Seminar.” Supreme Court of the United States Blog. March 23, 2020. Accessed May 24, 2020. https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/03/event-announcement-international-municipal-lawyers-association-2020-mid-year-virtual-seminar/
15. Briefs. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 27, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/past-briefs
16. Soronen, Lisa. “Legal Steps Sanctuary Cities Can Take If They Lose Federal Funding

    National League of Cities.” January 30, 2017. Accessed May 23, 2020. https://www.nlc.org/article/legal-steps-sanctuary-cities-can-take-if-they-lose-federal-funding

17. Panettieri, Angelina. “Net Neutrality Gives Some Cities Some Flexibility.” National League of Cities. October 22, 2019. Accessed May 24, 2020. https://citiesspeak.org/2019/10/22/net-neutrality-gives-cities-some-flexibility/
18. State and Local Legal Center, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Lines I and K. Accessed May 21, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/310868827/09_2019_prefixes_27-34%2F310868827_201806_990_2019090316614643
19. State and Local Legal Center, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Part VII, Line e. Accessed May 21, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/310868827/09_2019_prefixes_27-34%2F310868827_201806_990_2019090316614643
20. Lisa Soronen. LinkedIn. Accessed May 23, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-soronen-3931b57/
21. State and Local Legal Center, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Schedule A, 12i. Accessed May 21, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/310868827/09_2019_prefixes_27-34%2F310868827_201806_990_2019090316614643
22. About. State and Local Legal Center. Accessed May 22, 2020. https://www.statelocallc.org/about
23. CitiesSpeak. National League of Cities. Accessed May 26, 2020. https://citiesspeak.org/