Active Litigation Protecting Jewish Students Nationwide
The Deborah Project represents students, families, and faculty in cases we've filed in federal and state courts and in internal disciplinary and other proceedings.We believe strongly that, while negotiation can sometimes be effective, being ready to go court, and actually going when the other side won’t see reason, are the best ways to ensure that Jewish rights are respected and protected.
We have successfully represented students and faculty in disciplinary proceedings, leading to the dropping of charges pressed by anti-Israel antisemites, and often willingly supported by hostile or fearful administrators. We currently represent students, parents and faculty in state and federal courts on the East and West coasts, prosecuting claims that specific colleges and school districts are hostile environment for Jews who refuse to hide their commitment to the Jewish state.
We also frequently file, or represent others who file, public records requests to flush out into the sunlight the antisemitic materials that schools, or antisemitic teachers, use and often seek to hide. We have prevailed, and forced school districts to pay our legal fees, in such cases.
University/Faculty Cases
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia v. Keziah Ridgeway
The Deborah Project represented a community organization in proceedings concerning alleged antisemitic conduct by a public-school teacher. The matter involved professional conduct and public communications affecting students and parents. Administrative review resulted in disciplinary consequences.
Pennsylvania — Administrative Proceedings (2024)
Jews at Haverford v. Corporation of Haverford College
Students and campus organizations allege that the college permitted a hostile environment for Jewish students following campus protests and related incidents. The complaint asserts violations of federal nondiscrimination requirements for educational institutions. Plaintiffs seek institutional policy changes and injunctive relief.
Pennsylvania — U.S. District Court (Filed May 13, 2024)
Fiss v. California College of the Arts
Karen Fiss, a highly credentialed art historian, has sued California College of the Arts—the college where she is a tenured professor—for its maintenance of an antisemitic hostile environment, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In her case filed in federal court in San Francisco, Fiss alleges that at CCA, public expression of the Jewish commitment to Israel is met with disciplinary sanctions, while public calls for the death of Israeli Jews is publicly lauded by department chairs, professors, administrators and students, and officially defended as an exercise of academic freedom. Motion to Dismiss and its Opposition are fully briefed. The Judge DENIED CCA's Motion to Dismiss our Title VII claim of discrimination against CCA, and also DENIED CCA's Motion to Strike "Scandalous Material" from our brief. We just filed an Amended Complaint on 4 Feb. 2025.
California — U.S. District Court (2024–present)
Bronner v. American Studies Association
Professors challenge an academic association’s boycott resolution and related governance actions. The case concerns organizational governance and alleged discriminatory treatment of members. The litigation is currently on appeal.
Washington, D.C. — Appellate Proceedings (Ongoing)
Individual Teacher v. Major Urban School District
The Deborah Project represents an educator facing disciplinary proceedings relating to alleged disclosure of student information. The matter involves employment procedures and professional standards review.
Washington, D.C. — Appellate Proceedings (Ongoing)
Government and Public Records
Siegel v. Aziz
The complaint challenged a school board official’s classroom political advocacy and public conduct toward Jewish families. The matter proceeded through state ethics review and resulted in sanctions.
New Jersey — School Ethics Proceedings (2024–2025)
The Deborah Project v. University of California, Davis
The organization seeks disclosure of university records relating to campus incidents and administrative response. The case asserts statutory rights of public access to government documents. The requested materials were also submitted to federal authorities for review. The requests relate to a series of antisemitic incidents at the University, which are also the subject of submissions TDP has made to the Antisemitism Task Force at the United States Department of Justice.
California - Public Records Act Litigation (2025)