Kezhaya Law

10/09/2026

We had a wonderful hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa this week with the ACLU of Iowa, defending First Amendment values from ever-encroaching government censors. Order and further updates to follow.

09/25/2026

I had the honor of working with the preeminent First Amendment scholar, Eugene Volokh, on an amicus brief submitted on his behalf in the Second Circuit. The case arises from a criminal conviction for purported forced labor, where the so-called "force" was purely religious pressure. The Government cannot prescribe what shall be orthodox in religion and cannot put the legitimacy of religious beliefs on trial.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QWdNjxbMmp4ycZqn8PBW71Sfp8KS9ZM5/view?usp=sharing

08/14/2026

Today, alongside ALCU of Iowa, we brought a case of First Amendment significance in the Southern District of Iowa. More info here:

We filed a federal lawsuit, on behalf of The Satanic Temple, after state officials repeatedly denied the group permission to have a family-friendly event in the Iowa Capitol rotunda like others.

08/08/2026

Today we served as local counsel on an amicus brief submitted to the District of Minnesota on an issue of First Amendment significance. More details here.

MINNEAPOLIS | 7 August, 2026— The Liberty Justice Center filed a friend-of-the-court brief yesterday urging a federal court to block enforcement of a new Minnesota law that restricts AI-generated images and videos so broadly that it prohibits vast quantities of constitutionally protected speech. L...

04/04/2026

Ten years ago, the State of Arkansas threw down the gauntlet and declared that a particular set of religious laws reigned supreme. Eight years ago, it emplaced a literal monument to its hubris, despite a vocal and substantial objection that the First Amendment very clearly prohibited its conduct.

Then, the State changed its rules to prevent a competitor religious monument. The State Senator who ran the bill went on Facebook live and declared it would be a "cold day in Hell" before another religion got the same treatment as the State's preferred doctrine.

Eight years ago, Matt joined the litigation to invite the judiciary to find and declare that every resident of the United States of America is entitled to be free from religious laws, is entitled to a government that does not take sides on questions of religion, and is entitled to equal treatment under the law regardless of their religious affiliation.

After eight long years, on March 31, 2026, the District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas accepted that invitation and rendered judgment in all plaintiffs' favor. The opinion is linked below.

12/24/2025

Minnesota’s newest attorney! After five incredible years living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Sonia finally took the plunge and waived into the Minnesota bar. Her swear-in ceremony was extra special because it was one of only two in-person ceremonies per year, and it was held in the historic courtroom. Here she is making some opening remarks and participating in the tradition of entering her name in the log of attorneys.

08/12/2025

Are you a Minnesota business owner? It's vital to understand how media accountability and defamation laws can impact your reputation. Read our latest blog post where we explore 'actual malice' and what every business should know: https://wix.to/B8z4Bbt

While truth is an absolute defense to a defamation claim, establishing defamation liability requires more than proving that the charge was false and defamatory. It additionally requires an element of wrongful intent which varies depending on the nature of the plaintiff, the nature of the defamatory....

08/09/2025

In today's fast-paced world, the line between gossip and defamation can easily blur. Learn how Minnesota law addresses this crucial distinction in our latest post:

In this age of clickbait journalism, distinguishing between public interest and private concern is more critical than ever. Under Minnesota Law, whether a statement is of private concern is the difference between a plaintiff having to prove actual malice to recover presumed damages. Maethner v. Some...

06/04/2025

Celebrating a victorious motion for summary judgment hearing in an employment case. A Catholic hospital claims exemption from employment regulation under a statutory carveout for churches. The hospital was created for non-religious purposes and self-describes its primary purpose as a 'hospital' rather than a 'church' or an 'integrated auxiliary.' They perform no ceremonies, employ no priests, and consider spiritual ailments to be "irrelevant" except as an indicator of mental illness.

We filed this case back in 2020 and will finally get a jury trial in March 2027.

09/14/2024

"They knew this was not a proper use of this money, and they did it anyway," Kezhaya said.

FAYETTEVILLE -- A federal judge won't set any further hearings in a lawsuit challenging Washington County's plan to spend federal covid relief money to expand the county jail.