Jonathan Youngwood, Global Co-Chair of the Firm’s Litigation Department, was named “Litigator of the Week” by The Am Law Litigation Daily alongside Heather Weaver, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU, in recognition of their success obtaining a broad victory through a preliminary injunction from the federal district court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which determined (in two decisions, spanning a collective 210 pages) that a state law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
When explaining how the Firm got involved in the case, Jon discussed Simpson Thacher’s longstanding relationship with the ACLU and its collaboration on other religious freedom cases. He further emphasized the collective effort needed to secure this victory, highlighting the dedication of the Simpson Thacher team and its partners at the ACLU, the ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Reflecting on what he will remember most about this victory, Jon pointed to the deeply gratifying opportunity to work with so many dedicated, talented advocates.
Other members of the Simpson Thacher team included Janet Gochman, Nicholas Prendergast, Jordan Krieger, Noah Gimbel and Lara Fishbane.
In addition to The American Lawyer, the decision was covered by more than 40 of the most prominent national, regional and trade publications.
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