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 11 law firms: Anderson & Kreiger, Akin, Baker Donelson, Democracy Forward, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, K&L Gates, Hogan Lovells, Kilpatrick Townsend, Morrison & Foerster,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

August 15, 2023

Reducing the Financial Burden on Cancer Patients

Advocating for changes to the health care system that make cancer treatment more affordable for patients and their families includes protecting patients from receiving surprise bills for unexpected out-of-network care that are prohibited by the No Surprises Act (NSA). ACS CAN strongly supported N

August 15, 2023

Preserving Access to Preventive Services

A lawsuit 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 Administrat

May 8, 2023

Defending Access to FDA-Approved Pharmaceuticals

A U.S. District Court decision out of Texas in the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stayed the agency’s approval of the drug mifepristone, which is used in many medical abortions.

Tobacco Litigation

June 7, 2023

Defending Graphic Warnings on Cigarette Packs and Ads

ACS CAN and the American Cancer Society are helping defend the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s final rule requiring graphic warnings on cigarette packages and advertisements by filing amicus curiae briefs in federal lawsuits challenging the rule.

January 3, 2023

Defending California Ban on Sale of Most Flavored Tobacco Products

The citizens of California voted to ban the sale of most flavored tobacco products in a ballot initiative on November 9, 2022. The tobacco industry attempted to get an emergency stay of the law by petitioning the US Supreme Court in the case of RJ Reynolds v.

January 3, 2023

Department of Justice Lawsuit Against the Tobacco Industry

After the massive Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between states and the tobacco industry regarding fraud associated with the sale and marketing of cigarettes, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decided to file a similar lawsuit against the industry.

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

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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