Ayesha Khan: Potomac Law

Ayesha N. Khan is a seasoned trial and appellate litigator. She has served as counsel in thirty-five U.S. Supreme Court cases, more than one hundred federal and state appellate proceedings, and scores of trial-level matters. Her cases have spanned virtually every area of the law, including contracts, business torts, constitutional jurisprudence, administrative law, products liability, family law, civil rights, intellectual property, defamation, civil procedure, and criminal law.

Prior to coming to Potomac Law, Khan was a Deputy Chief with the Appellate Section of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, where she represented the United States in appellate litigation before the federal courts of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Before that, she was the Legal Director of a national advocacy organization, overseeing a team of attorneys in a nationwide trial and appellate litigation program.

Khan’s wide-ranging litigation background enables her to represent a broad array of clients in appellate matters involving common-law questions, statutory provisions, and constitutional issues of all kinds. She prides herself on approaching each engagement with a fresh and creative eye, providing clients with a frank assessment of the merits of disputes, and scaling each representation to fit a client’s needs.

Representative Experience

U.S. Supreme Court (as counsel to a party or amicus curiae on merits or cert. briefing)

City of Ocala v. A.R., No. 22-278 (2023) (cert. pet. pending)
Nat’l Postal Policy Council v. Postal Regulatory Comm’n, 142 S. Ct. 2868 (2022) (denial of cert. pet.)
Ivy v. Morath, 137 S. Ct. 414 (2016)
Heffernan v. City of Paterson, 578 U.S. 266 (2016)
Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015)
Walker v. Tex. Div., Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., 576 U.S. 200 (2015)
Holt v. Hobbs, 574 U.S. 352 (2015)
Univ. of Notre Dame v. Burwell, 575 U.S. 901 (2015)
Elmbrook Sch. Dist. v. Does, 573 U.S. 922 (2014) (denial of cert. pet.)
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 573 U.S. 682 (2014)
Town of Greece v. S.G., 571 U.S. 950 (2014)
J.J. v. Forsyth Cnty, 565 U.S. 1157 (2012) (denial of cert. pet.)
Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & Sch. v. Equal Emp’t Opportunity Comm’n, 565 U.S. 171 (2012)
A.P. v. Ky. Baptist Homes for Children, 563 U.S. 935 (2011) (denial of cert. pet.)
Ariz. Christian Sch. Tuition Org. v. Winn, 563 U.S. 125 (2011)
Christian Legal Soc’y v. Martinez, 561 U.S. 661 (2010)
Salazar v. Buono, 559 U.S. 700 (2010)
Borden v. Sch. Dist. of E. Brunswick, 555 U.S. 1212 (2009) (denial of cert. pet.)
Pleasant Grove v. Summum, 555 U.S. 460 (2009)
Hein v. Freedom from Religion Found., 551 U.S. 587 (2007)
K.S. v. Harris Cnty., 552 U.S. 1038 (2007) (denial of cert. pet.)
Sole v. Wyner, 551 U.S. 74 (2007)
C.S. v. Chesterfield County Bd. of Sup’rs, 546 U.S. 937 (2005) (denial of cert. pet.)
McCreary Cnty. v. ACLU, 545 U.S. 844 (2005)
Van Orden v. Perry, 545 U.S. 677 (2005)
Cutter v. Wilkinson, 544 U.S. 709 (2005)
Elk Grove Unified Sch. Dist. v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004)
Hibbs v. Winn, 542 U.S. 88 (2004)
Locke v. Davey, 540 U.S. 712 (2004)
S.G. v. Moore, 540 U.S. 1000 (2003) (denial of cert. pet.)
Zelman v. D.S., 536 U.S. 639 (2002)
Good News Club v. Milford Cent. Sch., 533 U.S. 98 (2001)
Santa Fe Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000)
Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Wis. Sys. v. Southworth, 529 U.S. 217 (2000)
Lewis v. F.C., 518 U.S. 343 (1996)
Sandin v. D.C., 515 U.S. 472 (1995)
D.F. v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1994)

United States Courts of Appeals (as counsel to a party or amicus curiae)

A.T. v. Eastern Virginia Medical School, No. 22-2165 (4th Cir., pending Nov. 2022–present)
J.R. v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 2:19-cv-04292-CFK (3d Cir., pending Apr. 2022-present)
Freedom from Religion Found. v. Mack, 4 F.4th 306 (5th Cir. 2021); 49 F. 4th 941 (5th Cir. 2022)
Nat’l Postal Policy Council v. Postal Regulatory Comm’n, 17 F.4th 1184 (D.C. Cir. 2021), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 2868 (2022)
L.D. v. ThyssenKrupp Elevator, Corp., No. 19-2090 (10th Cir., settled 2020)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta v. Burwell and Eternal Word Television Network v. Sec’y of U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 818 F.3d 1122 (11th Cir. 2016)
Watkins v. Sec’y Fla. DOC, 669 Fed. App’x 982 (11th Cir. 2016) (per curiam)
United States v. Rushin, 844 F.3d 933 (11th Cir. 2016)
Wilson v. United States, No. 16-2591 (8th Cir. 2016)
Southern Nazarene Univ. v. Sebelius, Reaching Souls Int’l, Inc. v. Sebelius, and Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged v. Sebelius, 794 F.3d 1151 (10th Cir. 2015), vacated, 136 S. Ct. 1557 (2016)
Grace Schools v. Burwell and Dordt Coll. v. Burwell, 801 F.3d 946 (8th Cir. 2015), vacated, 136 S. Ct. 2006 (2016)
Wheaton Col. v. Burwell, 791 F.3d 792 (7th Cir. 2015)
East Texas Baptist Univ. v. Burwell, 793 F.3d 449 (5th Cir. 2015), vacated, 136 S. Ct. 1557 & 136 S. Ct. 2008 (2016)
Geneva College v. Sec’y of U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 778 F.3d 422 (3d Cir. 2015), vacated, 136 S. Ct. 1557 (2016)
Stormans v. Wiesman, 794 F.3d 1064 (9th Cir. 2015)
Waters v. Ricketts, 798 F.3d 682 (8th Cir. 2015)
Trinity Lutheran Church. v. Pauley, 788 F.3d 779 (8th Cir. 2015)
Jernigan v. Crane, 796 F.3d 976 (8th Cir. 2015)
Hassan v. City of New York, 804 F.3d 277 (3d Cir. 2015)
Michigan Catholic Conference v. Burwell, 755 F.3d 372 (6th Cir. 2014), vacated, 576 U.S. 981 (2015), reinstated, 807 F.3d 738 (6th Cir. 2015), vacated, 136 S. Ct. 2450 (2016)
Univ. of Notre Dame v. Sebelius, 743 F.3d 547 (7th Cir. 2014), vacated sub nom. Univ. of Notre Dame v. Burwell, 575 U.S. 901 (2015)
Priests for Life v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 772 F.3d 229 (D.C. Cir. 2014), vacated, 136 S. Ct. 1557 (2016)
King v. Governor of N.J., 767 F.3d 216 (3d Cir. 2014)
Bronx Household of Faith v. Bd. of Educ., 750 F.3d 184 (2d Cir. 2014)
O’Brien v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 766 F.3d 862 (8th Cir. 2014)
Annex Medical. v. Sebelius, 769 F.3d 578 (8th Cir. 2014)
Gilardi v. U.S. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 733 F.3d 1208 (D.C. Cir. 2013), vacated, 573 U.S. 956 (2014)
Hobby Lobby Stores v. Sebelius, 723 F.3d 1114 (10th Cir. 2013), aff’d sub nom. Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 573 U.S. 682 (2014)
Newland v. Sebelius, 542 F. App’x 706 (10th Cir. 2013), cert. denied sub nom. Burwell v. Newland, 573 U.S. 958 (2014)
Korte v. Sebelius, 735 F.3d 654 (7th Cir. 2013), cert. denied sub nom. Burwell v. Korte, 573 U.S. 958 (2014)
Eden Foods, Inc. v. Sebelius, 733 F.3d 626 (6th Cir. 2013), vacated sub nom. Eden Foods, Inc. v. Burwell, 573 U.S. 956 (2014)
Autocam Corp. v. Sebelius, 730 F.3d 618 (6th Cir. 2013), vacated sub nom. Autocam Corp. v. Burwell, 573 U.S. 956 (2014)
Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius, 724 F.3d 377 (3d Cir. 2013), rev’d. sub nom. Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, 573 U.S. 682 (2014)
Grote Indus. v. Sebelius & Korte v. Sebelius, 708 F.3d 850 (7th Cir. 2013)
Atheists of Fla. v. City of Lakeland, 713 F.3d 577 (11th Cir. 2013)
Freedom from Religion Found. v. City of Warren, 707 F.3d 686 (6th Cir. 2013)
A.M. v. Taconic Hills Central Sch. Dist., 510 F. App’x 3 (2d Cir. 2013)
ACLU of Mass. v. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 705 F.3d 44 (1st Cir. 2013)
ACLU v. Dixie Cnty., 690 F.3d 1244 (11th Cir. 2012)
R.W. v. City of S. Bend, 669 F.3d 860 (7th Cir. 2012)
Sherman v. Illinois, 682 F.3d 643 (7th Cir. 2012)
Does v. Elmbrook Sch. Dist., 658 F.3d 710 (7th Cir. 2011), rev’d en banc, 687 F.3d 840 (7th Cir. 2012), cert. denied, 573 U.S. 922 (2014)
Ward v. Polite, 667 F.3d 727 (6th Cir. 2012)
S.G. v. Town of Greece, 681 F.3d 20 (2d Cir. 2012), rev’d, 572 U.S. 565 (2014)
K.W. v. Wagner, No. 10-55781 (9th Cir., settled & dismissed 2011)
Spencer v. World Vision, 633 F.3d 723 (9th Cir. 2011)
McCollum v. Cal. Dep’t of Corr. and Rehab., 647 F.3d 870 (9th Cir. 2011)
Johnson v. Poway Unified Sch. Dist., 658 F.3d 954 (9th Cir. 2011)
Intermountain Fair Hous. Council v. Boise Rescue Mission Ministries, 657 F.3d 988 (9th Cir. 2011)
Freedom from Religion Found. v. Obama, 641 F.3d 803 (7th Cir. 2011)
ACLU of Ohio Found. v. DeWeese, 633 F.3d 424 (6th Cir. 2011)
C.S. v. Medina Valley Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 11-50486 (5th Cir. June 3, 2011)
J.J. v. Forsyth Cnty., 653 F.3d 341 (4th Cir. 2011), cert. denied, 132 S. Ct. 1097 (2012)
Doe v. Indian River Sch. Dist., 653 F.3d 256 (3d Cir. 2011)
A.A. v. Needville Indep. Sch. Dist., 611 F.3d 248 (5th Cir. 2010)
Green v. Haskell County Bd. of Comm’rs, 568 F.3d 784 (10th Cir. 2009)
Stormans v. Selecky, 586 F.3d 1109 (9th Cir. 2009)
Nurre v. Whitehead, 580 F.3d 1087 (9th Cir. 2009)
Christian Legal Soc’y v. Kane, 319 F. App’x 645 (9th Cir. 2009)
Roark v. S. Iron R-1 Sch. Dist., 573 F.3d 556 (8th Cir. 2009)
Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs Ass’n v. Clarke, 588 F.3d 523 (7th Cir. 2009)
A.P. v. Ky. Baptist Homes for Children, 579 F.3d 722 (6th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 563 U.S. 935 (2011)
Detroit Dev. Auth. v. Am. Atheists, 567 F.3d 278 (6th Cir. 2009)
Croft v. Perry, 562 F.3d 735 (5th Cir. 2009)
Busch v. Marple Newtown Sch. Dist., 567 F.3d 89 (3d Cir. 2009)
Cooper v. U.S. Postal Serv., 577 F.3d 479 (2d Cir. 2009)
G.P. v. Cobb Cnty., 547 F.3d 1263 (11th Cir. 2008)
Colo. Christian Univ. v. Weaver, 534 F.3d 1245 (10th Cir. 2008)
Truth v. Kent Sch. Dist., 542 F.3d 634 (9th Cir. 2008)
J.C. v. City of Everett, 520 F.3d 1009 (9th Cir. 2008)
Barnes Wallace v. City of San Diego, 530 F.3d 776 (9th Cir. 2008), op. after certified question declined, 704 F.3d 1067 (9th Cir. 2012)
Bowman v. United States, 304 F. App’x 371 (6th Cir. 2008)
Borden v. Sch. Dist. of E. Brunswick, 523 F.3d 153 (3d Cir. 2008), cert. denied, 555 U.S. 1212 (2009)
Doe v. S. Iron R-1 Sch. Dist., 498 F.3d 878 (8th Cir. 2007)
Ams. United for Separation of Church & State v. Prison Fellowship Ministries, 509 F.3d 406 (8th Cir. 2007)
Winkler v. Chicago Sch. Reform Bd. of Trs., 481 F.3d 977 (7th Cir. 2007)
K.S. v. Harris Cnty., 485 F.3d 305 (5th Cir. 2007) (en banc), cert. denied, 552 U.S. 1038 (2007)
Doe v. Tangipahoa Parish Sch. Bd., 494 F.3d 494 (5th Cir. 2007) (en banc)
Cmty. House v. Boise, 468 F.3d 1118 (9th Cir. 2006)
Soc’y of Separationists v. Pleasant Grove, 416 F.3d 1239 (10th Cir. 2005)
ACLU Neb. Found. v. City of Plattsmouth, 419 F.3d 772 (8th Cir. 2005) (en banc)
K.S. v. Harris Cnty., 160 F. App’x 410 (5th Cir. 2005)
C.S. v. Chesterfield County Bd. of Sup’rs, 404 F.3d 276 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 937 (2005)
Am. Jewish Cong. v. Corp. for Nat’l and Cmty. Serv., 399 F.3d 351 (D.C. Cir. 2005)
Warnock v. Archer, 380 F.3d 1076 (8th Cir. 2004)
Wynne v. Town of Great Falls, 376 F.3d 292 (4th Cir. 2004)
Child Evangelism Fellowship v. Montgomery Cnty. Pub. Schs., 373 F.3d 589 (4th Cir. 2004)
A.M. v. Allegheny Cnty., 385 F.3d 397 (3d Cir. 2004)
Child Evangelism Fellowship v. Stafford Twp. Sch. Dist., 386 F.3d 514 (3d Cir. 2004)
Eulitt v. Me. Dep’t of Educ., 386 F.3d 344 (1st Cir. 2004)
King v. Richmond Cnty., 331 F.3d 1271 (11th Cir. 2003)
S.G. v. Moore, 335 F.3d 1290 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1000 (2003)
Freedom from Religion Found. v. McCallum, 324 F.3d 880 (7th Cir. 2003)
Mellen v. Bunting, 327 F.3d 355 (4th Cir. 2003)
Freethought Soc’y v. Chester Cnty., 334 F.3d 247 (3d Cir. 2003)
Tenafly Eruv Ass’n v. Borough of Tenafly, 309 F.3d 144 (3d Cir. 2002)
Does v. Sch. Bd. of Ouachita Parish, 274 F.3d 289 (5th Cir. 2001)
Branch Ministries v. Rossotti, 211 F.3d 137 (D.C. Cir. 2000)
ACLU v. City of Florissant, 186 F.3d 1095 (8th Cir. 1999)
Suhre v. Haywood Cnty., No. 99-1469 (4th Cir. 1999)
Strout v. Albanese, 178 F.3d 57 (1st Cir. 1999)
B.C. v. Eberly, 164 F.3d 490 (10th Cir. 1998)
Hamilton v. Morial, 147 F.3d 367 (5th Cir. 1998)
A.C. v. Cook, 133 F.3d 925 (9th Cir. 1998)
E.H. v. Johnson, 134 F.3d 371 (6th Cir. 1998)
L.O. v. Hopper, 126 F.3d 1323 (11th Cir. 1997), rev’d en banc, 171 F.3d 1289 (11th Cir. 1999), cert. denied sub nom. Davis v. Hopper, 528 U.S. 1114 (2000); No. 93-6697 (11th Cir. 1994)
Tremblay v. County of Warren, No. 96-3735, 1997 U.S. App. LEXIS 33391 (3d Cir. Oct. 14, 1997)

United States District Courts (as counsel to a party)

Freedom from Religion Found., Inc. v. Mack, No. 4:19-CV-1934, 540 F. Supp. 3d 707 (S.D. Tex., May 20, 2021), rev’d 49 F.4th 941 (5th Cir. 2022); 2020 WL 160663 (S. D. Tex., Jan. 13, 2020)
J.E. v. ENT, Civil No. 8:19-cv-2055-GJH (D. Md., filed July 2019 & settled June 2021)
Scroggins v. Hanley Wood Media, No. 1:17-CV-00360 (D.D.C., filed & settled 2017)
J.S. v. Strange, 44 F. Supp. 3d 1206 (S.D. Ala. 2015); 100 F. Supp. 1276 (S.D. Ala. 2015); 100 F. Supp. 1285 (S.D. Ala. 2015); 307 F.R.D. 604 (S.D. Ala. 2015); 105 F. Supp. 3d 1323 (S.D. Ala. 2015), aff’d, No. 15-12508 (11th Cir. Oct. 20, 2015)
S.M. v. Martinez, No. 3:14-cv-02468-JAP-LHG, 2015 WL 2233214 (D.N.J. May 12, 2015)
D.P. v. Town of Brentwood, No. 8:13-cv-00608-RWT (D. Md., filed & settled 2013)
S.H. v. City of King, 29 F. Supp. 3d 584 (M.D.N.C. 2014)
C.S. v. Medina Valley Indep. Sch. Dist., No. SA-11-CA-422-FB (W.D. Tex. June 1, 2011), rev’d, No. 11-50486 (5th Cir. June 3, 2011), settled on remand, 2012 WL 517518 (W.D. Tex. Feb. 9, 2012)
B.M. v. Sussex Cnty., 861 F. Supp. 2d 411 (D. Del. 2012)
R.W. v. City of S. Bend, 813 F. Supp. 2d 1051 (N.D. Ind. 2011), aff’d on other grounds, 669 F.3d 860 (7th Cir. 2012)
R.S. v. Johnson Cnty., No. 2:11-cv-00012 (E.D. Tenn., filed Jan. 2011 & settled Nov. 2012)
K.W. v. Wagner, No. CV 09-8528-RGK, Orders on Motions (C.D. Cal. May 11, 2010 & Nov. 4, 2010), appeal dismissed, No. 10-55781 (9th Cir. Apr. 5, 2011) (settled Apr. 2011)
S.G. v. Town of Greece, 732 F. Supp. 2d 195 (S.D.N.Y. 2010), rev’d, 681 F. 3d 20 (2d Cir. 2012), rev’d, 572 U.S. 565 (2014)
Does v. Elmbrook Sch. Dist., No. 09-C-0409, 2010 WL 2854287 (E.D. Wisc. July 19, 2010), aff’d, 658 F.3d 710 (7th Cir. 2011), rev’d en banc, 687 F.3d 840 (7th Cir. 2012), cert. denied, 573 U.S. 922 (2014)
Does v. Enfield Public Sch., 716 F. Supp. 2d 172 (D. Conn. 2010) (settled July 2012)
T.S. v. Adams, 669 F. Supp. 2d 637 (D.S.C. 2009); No. 3:08-2265-CMC, 2010 WL 2179571 (D.S.C. May 26, 2010)
J.C. v. District of Columbia, No. 1:08-cv-01604-RJL (D.D.C., filed Sept. 2008 & withdrawn Oct. 2011)
A.P. v. Ky. Baptist Homes for Children, 553 F. Supp. 2d 853 (W.D. Ky. 2008), rev’d in part and aff’d in part, 579 F.3d 722 (6th Cir. 2009), cert. denied, 563 U.S. 935 (2011)
Doe v. Round Rock Indep. Sch. Dist., 540 F. Supp. 2d 735 (W.D. Tex. 2007) (settled Mar. 2008)
B.C. v. Leavitt, 482 F. Supp. 2d 1237 (W.D. Wash. 2007)
Circle Sanctuary v. Nicholson, No. 3:06-cv-0660-S (W.D. Wis., filed Nov. 2006 & settled Apr. 2007)
J.S. v. Cobb Cnty. Sch. Dist., No. 1:02-CV-2325-CC (N.D. Ga.), on remand from 449 F.3d 1320 (11th Cir.2006) (settled Dec. 2007
C.M. v. Bradford Cnty., 444 F. Supp. 2d 316 (M.D. Pa. 2006)
K.H. v. Newman, No. 1:06-CV-00036-OWW-SMS (E.D. Cal., filed Jan. 2006)
Ams. United for Separation of Church & State v. Prison Fellowship Ministries, 432 F. Supp. 2d 862 (S.D. Iowa 2006) aff’d, 509 F.3d 406 (8th Cir. 2007)
T.K. v. Dover Area Sch. Dist., 400 F. Supp. 2d 707 (M.D. Pa. 2005)
D.M. v. Sch. Bd. of Brevard Cnty., 608 F. Supp. 2d 1303 (M.D. Fla. 2005)
R.C. v. City of Frederick, 373 F. Supp. 2d 567 (D. Md. 2005)
J.C. v. City of Everett, 386 F. Supp. 2d 1171 (W.D. Wash. 2005), aff’d, 520 F.3d 1009 (9th Cir. 2008)
Doe v. Norton, No.1:04-cv-02089-RJL (D.D.C., filed Dec. 2004 & withdrawn Jan. 2006)
C.S. v. Chesterfield County Bd. of Sup’rs, 292 F. Supp. 2d 805 (E.D. Va. 2003), rev’d, 404 F.3d 276 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 937 (2005)
E.W. v. Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 03-0373-DW (W.D. Mo., filed & settled July 2003)
T.O. v. City of Ringgold, No. 4:02-cv-00155-HLM (N.D. Ga., filed June 2002 & settled Sept. 2002)
S.G. v. Moore, 229 F. Supp. 2d 1290 (M.D. Ala. 2002), aff’d, 335 F.3d 1282 (11th Cir), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1000 (2003)
J.D. v. Bd. of Educ. of Kanawha Cnty., 231 F. Supp. 2d 483 (S.D.W. Va. 2002)
Does v. Sch. Bd. of Ouachita Parish, Nos. 99-CV-2203 & 00-CV-1059 (W.D. La.), aff’d, 274 F.3d 289 (5th Cir. 2001)
Nat’l Org. for Women v. St. Petersburg, No. 8:00-cv-01698-RAL (M.D. Fla., filed Aug. 2000)
L.B. v. City of Manhattan, No. 2:99-cv-02159-KHV (D. Kan., filed Apr. 1999 & settled Sept. 1999)
L.O. v. Herring, No. 87-V1109-N (M.D. Ala. Dec. 29, 1995), rev’d, 126 F.3d 1323 (11th Cir. 1997), aff’d en banc, 171 F.3d 1289 (11th Cir. 1999), cert. denied sub nom. Davis v. Hopper, 120 S. Ct. 931 (2000)
Witke v. Vernon, No. 82-3078 (D. Idaho, consent decree monitoring 1993-98)
Inmates of Occoquan v. Barry, 717 F. Supp. 854 (D.D.C. 1989, consent decree monitoring 1993-98)

State Appellate Courts (as counsel to a party or amicus curiae)

H.Q. v. More, No. 22-FM-932 (D.C., pending Dec. 2021–present)
A.C. v. Carome, Nos. 20-FM-739, 20-FM-740, 21-FM-68 & 21-FM-69 (D.C., pending Dec. 2020–present)
A.T. v. T.L., 21-CV-0713 (D.C., dismissed 2022)
A.C. v. Carome, 262 A.3d 242 (D.C. 2021)
N.K. v. Wolfe, 214 A.3d 455 (D.C. 2019)
Cash v. LG Electronics, Inc., 342 Ga. App. 735 (2017)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Craig, 370 P.3d 272 (Ct. App. Colo. 2015)
Taxpayers for Pub. Educ. v. Douglas Cnty. Sch. Dist., 356 P.3d 833 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013), rev’d, 351 P.3d 461 (Colo. 2015)
Taxpayers for Pub. Educ. v. Douglas Cnty. Sch. Dist., 351 P.3d 461 (Colo. 2015)
B.D. v. New Hampshire, 102 A.3d 913 (N.H. 2014)
Univ. of the Cumberlands v. Pennybacker, 308 S.W.3d 668 (Ky. 2010)
A.F. v. Browning, 992 So. 2d 132 (Fla. 2008)
St. Louis Univ. v. Masonic Temple, 220 S.W.3d 721 (Mo. 2007)
Bush v. R.H., 886 So. 2d 340 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2004) (en banc), aff’d in part, 919 So. 2d 392 (Fla. 2006); 767 So. 2d 668 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2000), review denied, 790 So. 2d 1104 (Fla. 2001)
Colo. Cong. of Parents v. Owens, 92 P.3d 933 (Colo. 2004) (en banc)
Va. Coll. Bldg. Auth. v. B.L., 538 S.E.2d 682 (Va. 2000)
Bagley v. Raymond Sch. Dep’t, 728 A.2d 127 (Me. 1999)

State Trial Courts (as counsel to a party)

A.C. v. P.C., No. 2018 CA 002416 B (D.C. Super. Ct. 2018-2022)
G.M. v. Enterprise RAC, Inc., No. 24-C-17-003962 OT (Mont. Cty. Cir. Ct. Md., filed 2017 & settled 2018)
J.M. v. Scott, No. 2014-CA-002282, 2015 WL 3945409 (Fla. Cir. Ct. May 18, 2015)
B.D. v. New Hampshire, No. 219-2013-CV-00011 (N.H. Super. Ct. June 17, 2013), rev’d on other grounds, 102 A.3d 913 (N.H. 2014)
ACLU of N.J. v. Hendricks, No. C-82-13 (N.J. Super. Ct., filed June 24, 2013)
Taxpayers for Pub. Educ. v. Douglas Cnty. Sch. Dist., slip op. (Colo. Dist. Ct. 2011), rev’d, 356 P.3d 833 (Colo. Ct. App. 2013), rev’d, 351 P.3d 461 (Colo. 2015)
M.S. v. Browning, No. 2011-CA-1892 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Dec. 13, 2011)
A.F. v. Browning, No. 37 2008-CA-1905 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Aug. 4, 2008), rev’d, 992 So. 2d 132 (Fla. 2008)
Bush v. R.H., No. CV 99-3370, 2002 WL 1809079 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Aug. 5, 2002), aff’d en banc, 886 So. 2d 340 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2004), aff’d in part, 919 So. 2d 392 (Fla. 2006)
Va. Coll. Bldg. Auth. v. B.L., No. LAW# LF-1527 (Va. Cir. Ct. July 29, 1999), rev’d, 538 S.E.2d 682 (Va. 2000)
J.Y. v. Charleston Cnty., No. 97-CP-10-3491, 1999 WL 33530383 (S.C. Ct. of Common Pleas Jan. 21, 1999)

Other Venues (as counsel to a party)

JDA Software, Inc. v. Kirschman (Am. Arbitration Ass’n 1991-1993)
Avco Corp. v. IACI (Iran-U.S. C.T.R. 1991-1993)

Honors & Awards

Berkeley Law:

Order of the Coif
Women in the Public Interest Scholarship

University of Michigan:

Degree Awarded with Highest Distinction
James B. Angell Scholar

Publications and Speeches

Speaking Engagements

Panelist, Emerging Trends: Will the Supreme Court Strengthen Religion to Slow LGBTQ+ Advances?, Lavender Law Conference, Washington, DC (Aug. 7, 2020)
Panelist, Religion in the National Discourse, Newseum, Washington, DC (Oct. 29, 2018)
Panelist, Civil Rights Symposium 2018, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA (Apr. 12, 2018)
Panelist, Constitutional and Appellate Law in the Solo/Small Firm Setting, Maryland State Bar Association Solo & Small Firm Conference, Linthicum Heights, MD (Nov. 10, 2017)
Speaker, Withrow Chair in Government, Deep Springs College, Deep Springs Valley, CA (Sept. 20-23, 2017)
Panelist, U.S. Supreme Court Roundup, State and Local Legal Center, Washington, DC (Jul. 13, 2017)
Panelist, Prayer, Prisons, and Public Fora: Flashpoints at the Intersection of Religion and Municipal Practice, International Municipal Lawyers’ Association Annual Seminar, Washington, DC (Apr. 23, 2017)
Speaker, Stories from Section Deputy Chief Khan’s Career, Civil Rights Division, Continuing Legal Education Brown Bag Series, October 15, 2015
At a Crossroads: The Intersection Between Religious Liberties and Nondiscrimination Principles, Presented to U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Washington, DC, March 22, 2013
Panelist, Briefing on Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, American Constitution Society, Washington, DC, April 7, 2010
Panelist, Blazing a Career Path in Social Justice, Women’s Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program Seminar, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, December 7, 2009
Panelist, Briefing on Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, American Constitution Society, Washington, DC, November 6, 2008
Panelist, The Constitutionality of Vouchers, Boston College Law School, Boston, MA, January 23, 2002
Panelist, The First Amendment and the Public Schools, First Amendment Center, Washington, DC, November 3, 2001
Lecturer, Advanced Constitutional Law, Washington College of Law, American University, Washington, DC, October 25, 2001
Lecturer, Washington Semester Program, American University, Washington, DC, March 23, 2000
Panelist, Prison Litigation, Section 1983 Annual Seminar, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, March 27, 1998
Presenter, Issues in Prison Litigation, National Prison Project Annual Conference, Washington, DC, October 30-31, 1997
Speaker, Prison Litigation, American Civil Liberties Union National Biennial Conference, Santa Fe, NM, June 6, 1997
Lecturer, Prison Litigation, American University, Criminal Justice Semester, Washington, DC, February 1997
Speaker, Rights of Prisoners, DC Bar Pubic Service Activities Corporation, Washington, DC, January 27, 1997
Speaker, Prison Litigation, American Civil Liberties Union National Biennial Conference, Santa Fe, NM, September 27, 1996
Lecturer, Prison Litigation, American University, Criminal Justice Semester, Washington, DC, February 1996
Speaker, Civil and Criminal Responses to Domestic Violence, DC Bar Annual Conference, Washington, DC, June 1991

Publications

Constitutional Caprice, 3 Quarks Daily (July 18, 2022) (with V. Gauri)
Top 10 Tips for Brief Writing, The Daily Record (Aug. 3, 2020)
We Are All Textualists Now, The Daily Record (Jun. 25, 2020)
Legalese Is for Losers, The Daily Record (Jun. 8, 2020)
We Draw the Line at Gibberish, The Daily Record (Apr. 6, 2020)
A Look at Best Practices for Writing Briefs, The Daily Record (Mar. 2, 2020)
Does the Americans with Disabilities Act Apply to Company Websites, MdAppBlog (May 14, 2018)
The #MeToo Movement and Arbitration Clauses, MdAppBlog (Apr. 16, 2018)
The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker: When Nondiscrimination Principles Collide with Religious Freedom, Maryland Bar Journal (Jul./Aug. 2017)
Damned if You Do, Damned if You Don’t: The Pitfalls and Pratfalls of Complying with the Establishment Clause, Municipal Lawyer (May/Jun. 2017)
Hobby Lobby Symposium: Your God Is Bigger Than My God, http://www.scotusblog.com/2014/06/hobby-lobby-symposium-your-god-is-bigger-than-my-god/, June 2014
Not Taking Yes for an Answer: Hobby Lobby, Conestoga Wood and the University of Notre Dame, http://www.jurist.org/hotline/2014/05/ayesha-khan-aca-contraception.php, May 2014
At a Crossroads: The Intersection Between Religious Liberties and Nondiscrimination Principles, in PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE? RECONCILING NON-DISCRIMINATION PRINCIPLES WITH CIVIL LIBERTIES (U.S. Commission on Civil Rights ed., 2013)
Holy Headache: Is Bufferin’ an Adequate Prescription for the Rev. Phelps?, 2010 CARDOZO L. REV. DE NOVO 388 (2010) (with Michael Blank)
Attorney Fees under the Prison Litigation Reform Act: Interpretations and Challenges, 13 CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION AND ATTORNEY FEES (Clark Boardman Callaghan Pub., Steve Saltzman ed., 1997)
The Application of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to the Segregation of HIV-Positive Inmates, 65 WASH. L. REV. 839 (1990)

Media Appearances

Ms. Khan is often called upon by media outlets to provide commentary on legal issues relevant to her litigation practice and many of her cases have garnered extensive media coverage. She has appeared on numerous national and local news programs, including ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Mathews, Fox TV’s O’Reilly Factor, and CNN’s Prime News and The World Today. She has also been interviewed on dozens of national and local radio programs, including NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered. In addition, she has been quoted in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Int’l Herald Tribune, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Chicago Tribune, and dozens of regional newspapers.

Non-Legal Volunteer Work

Volunteer, Miriam’s Kitchen, Washington, DC
Volunteer, A Wider Circle, Silver Spring, MD
Volunteer, National Center for Children & Families, Bethesda, MD
Sunday School Teacher & Member, Washington Ethical Society, Washington, DC
Volunteer, Bradley Hills Elementary School, Bethesda, MD
Founder & Co-Leader, Insight Family Community of Greater Washington, Bethesda, MD
Auction Committee Member, Oyster Bilingual Elementary School, Washington, DC
Volunteer, Oyster Bilingual Elementary School, Washington, DC
Big Sister, Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization, Washington, DC

Memberships and Affiliations

Women’s Bar Association of DC
Capital Area Muslim Bar Association
South Asian Bar Association–DC
Bar Association of DC
Women’s Bar Association of Maryland
Maryland Association for Justice
Bar Association of Montgomery County
Maryland State Bar Association
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
International Municipal Lawyers’ Association

Past/Current Bar Committees & Legal Activities

Member, DC Bar Nominations Committee
Member, Legal Panel, ACLU of DC
Member, Appellate Practice Committee, Maryland State Bar Association
Coach, Walt Whitman High School Mock Trial Team, Bethesda, MD
Mentor, Mentor/Mentee Program, Bar Association of Montgomery County, MD
Mentor to law-school graduate through A Wider Circle, Silver Spring, MD

Ayesha N. Khan

Representative Experience

Honors & Awards

Publications and Speeches

Non-Legal Volunteer Work

Memberships and Affiliations

Past/Current Bar Committees & Legal Activities

News, Events & Insights

Education

Previous Experience

Areas of Practice

Clerkships

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