Judge Lindsey Martinez of the Orange County Superior Court opened the event with a keynote on uplifting communities through civics, followed by the student presentations.

The lawsuit is led by attorneys general from California, Colorado and Washington, and challenges the Federal Highway Administration’s authority to halt the funding. They argue Congress, which approved the money in 2021 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, holds that authority.

President Donald Trump’s order to slash federal funds for libraries, museums and minority business development programs has been blocked by a federal judge. California’s state librarian said the cutbacks would end programs for the needy and those with physical or mental disabilities, and would impact every user in the state.

(Subscription required) The profession has rallied and recognized that in a constitutional crisis lawyers are the front line. It’s the lawyers litigating all those successful challenges. Thousands of our colleagues took to the streets in last week’s National Law Day of Action to renew their oaths and show their commitment to defending the rule of law. Law school applications have surged. There’s never been a better time to be a lawyer.