Thomas More Law Center
The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) is a right-wing 501(c)(3) law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that describes itself as “the Christian response to the ACLU,” which it accuses of seeking to “systematically subvert the religious and moral foundations of our nation.”[1] TMLC provides free legal services to “defend and protect Christians and patriotic Americans in the public square.” TMLC’s activities include litigation and public education, and it provides its legal services for free. To fund its work, TMLC “relies on tax-deductible donations from concerned patriotic Americans and charitable foundations.”[2] The firm’s mission, according to its website, encompasses:
- Promoting “America’s Judeo-Christian heritage”
- Defending “the religious freedom of Christians”
- Promoting “time-honored moral and family values”
- Politicizing “the sanctity of human life”
- Promoting “a strong national defense and a free and sovereign United States of America”
In reality, these priorities reflect TMLC’s commitment to anti-LGBTQ bigotry, opposition to reproductive freedoms, and hatred towards minority groups, especially Muslims.
In its IRS filings, TMLC details how many legal cases they’ve been involved with in how many states, as well as the number of speeches delivered and education materials distributed. These pertain to matters of religious freedom, “traditional family values,” and the “sanctity of human life.” In 2022, TMLC claimed to have been involved in 29 “active legal matters” in 11 states, and delivered 14 “pro-life speeches.”
Contents
News and Controversies
Anti-Transparency Activism
Like many nonprofits funded by dark money, the TMLC has fought efforts to increase donor transparency. TMLC took the California Attorney General to the Supreme Court to fight donor disclosure requirements — see Thomas More Law Center v. Becerra below. A similar case was filed by the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity in the same year.
Supreme Court Cases
Thomas More Law Center v. Becerra
In Thomas More Law Center v. Becerra, which was consolidated with Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta and therefore also referred to as Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta, TMLC argued that the California state attorney general could not require nonprofits to disclose its donors.[3] TMLC’s role in the case was promoted by the anti-LGBTQ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom, which produced a short YouTube video about the lawsuit.[4] The Alliance Defending Freedom claims in the video that TMLC is one of its clients.
Thomas More Law Center v. Obama
In this case, TMLC filed a lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of four Michigan residents claiming that Obamacare was unconstitutional in its minimum coverage provision, which TMLC claimed unconstitutionally compelled the petitioners to purchase health insurance. TMLC filed the lawsuit the day Obamacare was signed into law in October 2010. TMLC’s petition for certiorari was denied in June 2012. Groups that filed amicus briefs include Pacific Legal Foundation and Mountain States Legal Foundation, right-wing legal organizations that are part of the State Policy Network.
Federal Lawsuit Over Quarantine Measures
In 2020, TMLC filed federal lawsuit against Royal Oak City Commission after it censured one of its commissioners for opposing quarantine and participating in Operation Gridlock.[5]
Funding
A review of publicly-available IRS filings found that the following organizations provided funding in amounts of at least $25,000 to TMLC:
- Catholic League For Religious And Civil Rights: $50,000 (2015)
- Community Foundation Of Tampa Bay Inc: $36,992 (2020)
- Deramus Foundation Inc: $75,000 (2012-2013)
- Donors Trust: $40,000 (2021-2022)
- Edwin J And Ruth M Shoemaker Foundation: $245,000 (2020-2022)
- Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund: $1,256,729 (2016-2021)
- Mercy Works Foundation Inc: $35,000 (2020)
- Schwab Charitable Fund: $279,925 (2014-2021)
Core Financials
2022
- Total Revenue: $4,283,485
- Total Expenses: $3,909,481
- Net Assets: $3,909,481
2021
- Total Revenue: $2,036,910
- Total Expenses: $1,013,577
- Net Assets: $2,234,419
2020
- Total Revenue: $1,543,695
- Total Expenses: $1,370,183
- Net Assets: $1,189,019
2019
- Total Revenue: $1,725,572
- Total Expenses: $1,614,792
- Net Assets: $971,591
2018
- Total Revenue: $1,765,682
- Total Expenses: $1,964,084
- Net Assets: $724,368
2017
- Total Revenue: $1,823,982
- Total Expenses: $1,799,459
- Net Assets: $1,006,617
Personnel
As of 2022, TMLC retains 818 pro-bono attorneys, up from 786 in 2017.
Current:
- Thomas S. Monaghan – Director
- Thomas E. Brennan, Jr. – Director
- Paul Roney – Secretary/Treasurer
- Richard Thompson – President and Chief Counsel
Former:
- Robert L. Bunting – Former Director
- Brandon M. Bolling – Attorney
- Thomas J. Lynch – Mission Advn.
Contact Information
Thomas More Law Center
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive
P.O. Box 393
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
Phone: (734) 827-2001
Fax: (734) 930-7160
E-mail: info@thomasmore.org
Resources and Articles
IRS Filings
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
References
- ↑ Thomas More Law Center, About, Thomas More Law Center, Accessed January 16, 2024.
- ↑ Thomas More Law Center, Home Page, Thomas More Law Center, Accessed January 16, 2024.
- ↑ SCOTUS Blog, [https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/thomas-more-law-center-v-becerra/ Thomas More Law Center v. Bonta], SCOTUS Blog, Accessed January 16, 2024.
- ↑ Alliance Defending Freedom, Thomas More Law Center At The Supreme Court, Alliance Defending Freedom, April 26, 2021.
- ↑ Bruce Walker, Law center will file federal lawsuit against Royal Oak for censuring quarantine-opposing commissioner, The Center Square, April 28, 2020.
