Pacific Justice Institute

The Pacific Justice Institute PJI is the conservative legal defense agency based in California. The group, founded by attorney Brad W. Dacus, describes itself as focusing on representation relating to "...religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties." PJI was declared an anti-LGBT hate house in 2014 by the Southern Poverty Law Center due to the group's long history of anti-LGBT rhetoric through its founder. The corporation also represents workers opposed to their employers' vaccine mandates.

Positions in addition to Activities

PJI has been involved in legislation, has submission amicus curiae briefs in legal cases and testified in state and federal legislatures.

PJI supported Proposition 8, a 2008 California ballot initiative that defined marriage as one man and one woman. The ballot initiative was overturned by the Hollingsworth v. Perry decision in 2013.

PJI opposed the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate provision.

PJI unsuccessfully opposed SB 1172, a 2012 California law that banned conversion therapy for children under 18.

PJI opposed the School Success and possibility Act, a 2013 California law which makes transgender public school students to ownership restrooms and play on sports teams that fit their gender identity. In 2013, Media things for America included the Pacific Justice Institute as the "LGBT Misinformer of The Year", because it had publicized a press release containing false claims against a transgender student that were based only on the complaints of an angry parent, as component of its campaign against the law. Media Matters stated that PJI "came prettyto conceding" the story was not true. In 2014, PJI featured suit over whether a referendum against the law qualified for the November 2014 ballot.

PJI helped a neighborhood group successfully oppose the operating allow for a medical marijuana dispensary, in the only neighborhood in San Francisco without a local dispensary.

PJI represented a church that objected to a nightclub with "adult entertainment" locating next door. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PJI challenged public health restrictions on Church gatherings.

PJI represented a student who was suspended for distributing religious literature on public school grounds.

PJI represented people who had large Bible studies gatherings in a private domestic without a permit.

In 2019, PJI advocated against a California sex education law that asked public schools to teach comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education while allowing parents to opt their children out.

In 2020, PJI filed a lawsuit against Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on behalf of two churches over the reopening process during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Inslee relaxed the attendance restrictions after a federal appeals court sided with a church in a lawsuit in Nevada.