My100 Pro Bono

On behalf of The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, SSC filed an amicus curiae brief in City of Philadelphia v. U.S. Department of the Interior, pending in U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The brief supports the City of Philadelphia’s effort to preserve the interpretive exhibits at the President’s House Site in Independence National Historical Park—an outdoor memorial that, until recently, told the complete story of the first executive mansion, including the stories of the nine people enslaved there by President Washington. But, in January 2026, the federal government dismantled the exhibits at the site, kicking off litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which has left the site in limbo with only some of the original exhibits standing.

The brief argues that historic preservation is a civic obligation, and that removing the exhibits causes concrete and irreparable harm by erasing difficult but essential history and diminishing a vital chapter in American history. Read more about the matter here.

In partnership with the Public Interest Law Center, and on behalf of POWER Interfaith, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania, we asked the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to reject the federal government’s request to terminate early a court order aimed at preventing the redlining of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Philadelphia area. The District Court sided with our clients and denied the government’s request, explaining that “[u]pholding these commitments serves not only legal compliance, but also the broader public interest in fairness and equality.”

You can read more about this successful collaboration with the Public Interest Law Center here and here.

As covered by numerous media, SSC—along with GLAD Law, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and Langer, Grogan & Diver P.C.—obtained a temporary restraining order from the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey enjoining the military from seeking to prevent two longstanding, high-ranking Air Force service members from being discharged.

The Court's opinion chronicled our clients' collective 20-plus years of esteemed military service, stating:

Both Plaintiffs have exemplary service records: Master Sergeant Ireland, who has honorably served for over fourteen years including deployment to Afghanistan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, has earned four Air Force Commendation Medals, two Air Force Achievement Medals, two Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals, and three Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year awards, while Staff Sergeant Bade, who has honorably served for over six years including deployment in Kuwait as a member of the base’s Security forces, has received a Diamond Sharp Award, a Wing level scholarship, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and an Achievement Medal. (Pls.’ Mot., ECF No. 4 at 16, 19; Compl., ECF No. 1 ¶¶ 14-15, 42, 45). At the time the challenged Orders took effect, Master Sergeant Ireland was part of a training program at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, and Staff Sergeant Bade was deployed to Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait. (Pls.’ Mot., ECF No. 4 at 17–18; Compl., ECF No. 1 ¶¶ 11, 42).

Following rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, our clients ultimately voluntarily dismissed the action. However, the fight for transgender rights—in and out of the military—continues and we are proud to be allies in this important fight for civil rights.

You can read more about the case here and here. 

With the Public Rights Project and Evergreen Legal Strategies LLP, we filed an amicus brief in the District of New Jersey on behalf of 66 cities, counties, and elected officials to support the cities of Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken against the federal government's lawsuit to enjoin the cities' so-called "sanctuary policies." The brief argues that, despite rhetoric, evidence and data shows that such policies promote public safety, economic well-being, and health and welfare. Read the brief here.

Our client came to SSC after the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas had already granted her abusive ex-spouse’s petition for partition and had ordered that her home be sold. A court-appointed broker was about to list the home on the public market. Staying in her home was not just a matter of sentimentality, but also critical for the health and medical needs of our client's disabled child. Despite our 11^th-hour engagement, we fought hard to reverse the partition, including filing an interlocutory appeal. Ultimately, we crafted a favorable settlement between our client and her ex-spouse enabling her and her child to remain in their home, where they continue to live today with full and clear title.

On April 16, 2020, John’s client took his first free steps out of incarceration in 20 years, 11 months, and 16 days, after obtaining the rare relief of a writ of habeas corpus and the vacation of a state court conviction and sentence. John was lead counsel in the proceedings before both the U.S. District for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

The District Court proceedings included an evidentiary hearing, and in the opinion granting relief, the Court specifically “thank[ed]” John and his team for their “able and vigorous advocacy,” their “thorough efforts and distinguished advocacy,” and for “play[ing] an integral part in ensuring that justice is fairly meted based on the merits of the arguments rather than the resources of the litigants.” [Disclaimer: this comment does not constitute a judicial endorsement of legal skills or ability.]

The Third Circuit affirmed the grant of habeas relief on April 8, 2020.

[To the left, John is pictured with his client and co-counsel Jason Levine of Hangley Aronchick.]

SSC filed an amicus brief as pro bono counsel on behalf of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and the Innocence Network in a case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

In re Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. LaVar Brown, No. 32 EM 2023, concerns whether, and via what procedure, a court may grant post-conviction relief to a criminal defendant when the prosecution confesses error and concedes that relief is due.

Through an exhaustive review of Innocence Project cases, the brief tells the stories of over 15 individuals who were wrongfully convicted and ultimately exonerated after years of litigation and procedural hurdles.  The brief argues that existing procedures are sufficient to ensure fair and independent consideration of post-conviction relief. Specifically, the brief demonstrates that courts are not acting as “rubber stamps,” necessitating additional intervention, and that requiring additional procedure would delay post-conviction proceedings, harming those wrongfully convicted.

You can read more about the case here. 

Jon successfully represented a homeless former Marine in his appeal of a Department of Veterans Affairs’ determination that his disabling anxiety and depression were not connected to his time in the Marines and, therefore, not something for which he was entitled to veterans disability benefits. After a hearing, the Department reversed itself, and the client was granted a substantial increase in benefits.

Jon is President of the Board of the Homeless Advocacy Project, a legal aid organization that provides legal services to thousands of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. In addition to his many years of service on HAP’s Board, Jon has represented numerous HAP clients in matters ranging from Social Security appeals to landlord-tenant issues.

Learn more about the Homeless Advocacy Project here.

John was one of the leaders for the litigation team—along with others from his prior firm and the ACLU—that obtained the landmark ruling striking down Pennsylvania’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples in Whitewood v. Wolf in 2014. One year later, the Supreme Court of the United States finally held that no state could discriminate against same-sex couples by refusing them the right to marry.

We represented Jenna Pinchbeck, a Philadelphia-based actress, in responding to a cease-and-desist letter she received from attorneys for The Walnut Street Theatre regarding her public comments in support of women, BIPOC, trans, and disabled artists in the Philadelphia theater community. SSC was proud to stand with Ms. Pinchbeck and strongly supports the important public issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion that Ms. Pinchbeck advanced.

Eli partnered with the ACLU in representing Montgomery County residents in a lawsuit alleging that the County Commissioners violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act when they terminated the public defender and his chief deputy. In settling the lawsuit, the Commissioners agreed to adopt new meeting procedures that provide greater transparency regarding County employment decisions.

John and Jon co-authored an amicus brief on behalf of Pennsylvania county and local governments in support of a challenge brought by the City of Philadelphia and other plaintiffs to Pennsylvania’s prohibition on local regulation of firearms.

Eli is on the Board of Directors of the Public Interest Law Center, non-profit organization that uses high-impact legal strategies to advance the civil, social, and economic rights of communities in the Philadelphia region facing discrimination, inequality, and poverty.

Learn more about the Public Interest Law Center here: https://pubintlaw.org/

For six years, Eli served on the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Law Center, non-profit organization that advocates for rights, dignity, equity, and opportunity for youth in the child welfare and justice systems.

Learn more about the Juvenile Law Center here: https://jlc.org/

Since 2006, John has represented 15 abused and neglect children as volunteer counsel with the Support Center for Child Advocates.
In 2017, the Support Center named John a “Distinguished Advocate,” for his longstanding and dedicated work.

Learn more about the Support Center for Child Advocates here: https://www.sccalaw.org/

Eli co-authored a Third Circuit amicus brief on behalf of the Society for Photographic Education in support of the recognition of a First Amendment right to photograph the police.

In 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States denied a petition for certiorari filed by SEPTA, leaving in place an important First Amendment victory by our client, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting. In 2018, Reveal sought to advertise on SEPTA vehicles to promote Reveal and its investigation into racially discriminatory home mortgage lending practices. But SEPTA rejected the ad as "political." John co-led the litigation team with the ACLU that sued in 2018. And after a bench trial, an appeal in the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and a petition for cert in the Supreme Court, we won.

In addition to co-counseling with the ACLU on various litigations, John also serves on the ACLU of Pennsylvania Legal Advisory Board.

Learn more about the ACLU of Pennsylvania here: https://www.aclupa.org/

Learn more about Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting here: https://www.revealnews.org/

Eli partnered with the ACLU in representing journalists and formerly incarcerated community leaders in a successful challenge to the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s Revictimization Relief Act. The Act would have permitted Courts to enjoin and penalize speech just because it was upsetting to a crime victim.

Through the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Prisoner Civil Rights Panel, Jon represented a former inmate of a local jail who was assaulted after he was put on a gang hit list but left unprotected by the guards. After the matter resolved, the client sent a grateful letter, saying, “Even when you knew I did not have the money to pay for your representation you still did everything you could and sadly I never had an attorney who did his job as well as you […] with what you got for me I will be able to leave prison with a way of getting myself together to start a better life.”

John successfully obtained asylum for a Colombian national before the Board of Immigration Appeals, obtaining the rare reversal of an Immigration Judge’s prior denial of an asylum application. John’s client fled Colombia due to political persecution at the hands of a violent guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known as FARC). The FARC kidnapped and abused the client prior to his escape to the United States. Although the United States government vigorously opposed the application, John, serving as both trial and appellate counsel, was able to succeed before the Board of Immigration Appeals.

We recognize that government transparency is crucial to our democracy and that local journalists play a key role in ensuring that transparency. We also recognize that paying a lawyer to help fight for government transparency can be cost prohibitive. Therefore, we have provided pro bono support to local journalists in their efforts to gain access to government records and information.

John serves as a board member on the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic Advisory Board. The Volunteer UP Legal Clinic provides much-needed legal assistance to economically disadvantaged clients in the region.

Learn more about the Clinic here: http://www.volunteeruplegalclinic.org.

In a matter of significant public attention in southern New Jersey, John represented a public school teacher denied tenure. John led a high-profile appeal of that decision before the school district board that saw hundreds of students and parents rally in support of the teacher.

Tad has handled several cases in conjunction with Philadelphia VIP, a non-profit that provides free legal representation for needy individuals who face legal challenges threatening their basic human needs of housing, family, and income.

To learn more about Philadelphia VIP: https://www.phillyvip.org/.

In April 2020, John prepared and filed an amicus brief on behalf of Healing Justice Project, a national nonprofit organization that serves individuals who have experienced trauma and inequity in the justice system due to a wrongful conviction. Through restorative justice and justice reform, Healing Justice provides post-trial support and recovery to crime victims, survivors, and their families in cases involving post-conviction claims of innocence and exonerations.

Learn more about Healing Justice Project here: https://healingjusticeproject.org/