Alliance Defending Freedom: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Alliance Defending Freedom: The Powerhouse Legal Group Shaping Conservative Policy Across America

From Supreme Court victories to school board controversies, Alliance Defending Freedom has become one of the most influential—and controversial—Christian conservative legal organizations in the United States.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is a legal advocacy group based in Scottsdale, Arizona, known for its role in high-profile religious liberty, free speech, and anti-abortion cases. Founded in 1994, ADF has grown into a powerful force in American legal and political circles, with a network of attorneys engaged in litigation aimed at reshaping the nation’s cultural and constitutional landscape. Depending on who you ask, ADF is either a protector of religious freedom or an aggressive opponent of LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom.

ADF Founding and Mission

Originally launched as the Alliance Defense Fund, the group was co-founded by several prominent evangelical figures, including Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family) and Bill Bright (Campus Crusade for Christ). The organization rebranded in 2012 to become Alliance Defending Freedom, signaling its broader international ambitions and aggressive legal strategy.

ADF describes its mission as defending “religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, parental rights, and God’s design for marriage and family.” Its tagline is: “For faith. For justice.”

Legal Footprint and Supreme Court Clout

ADF has been involved in dozens of Supreme Court cases, including some landmark victories. Notable cases include:

• Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (2018): ADF successfully defended a Christian baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, arguing that doing so would violate his religious beliefs. The court ruled narrowly in favor of the baker.

• Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022): While not the lead attorney, ADF filed influential amicus briefs supporting Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban. The case led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

• 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (2023): ADF represented a Christian web designer who preemptively challenged Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws, arguing that being forced to design wedding websites for same-sex couples violated her First Amendment rights. The Court ruled in her favor.

These victories have solidified ADF’s role as the most successful conservative legal group at the Supreme Court in recent years.

ADF Key Areas of Litigation

ADF’s litigation focuses on a handful of hot-button cultural and constitutional issues:

1. Religious Liberty: Defending individuals and businesses who claim government laws infringe on their religious convictions—often in cases involving LGBTQ+ rights, education, and healthcare mandates.

2. Free Speech on Campuses: ADF has filed lawsuits across the U.S. challenging university “free speech zones,” often on behalf of Christian student groups.

3. Abortion Restrictions: ADF has authored model legislation used by state legislatures to restrict abortion, and works with groups to defend those laws in court.

4. LGBTQ+ Rights Opposition: ADF has consistently opposed laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination, often arguing that such protections infringe on religious freedom.

5. Parental Rights and Education: More recently, ADF has turned its focus toward public schools, challenging policies that allow students to choose their pronouns or access gender-affirming care without parental consent.

Funding and Political Influence

ADF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an estimated annual revenue of over $60 million (as of 2023). Major funding sources include:

• Private donors

• Conservative foundations (like the DeVos family foundation)

• Religious organizations

The organization also runs ADF International, expanding its mission to Europe, Latin America, and other regions—often fighting against the legalization of same-sex marriage and abortion abroad.

Criticism and Controversy

While supporters hail ADF as a guardian of religious freedom, critics argue it is pushing a theocratic agenda. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) designates ADF as an “anti-LGBTQ hate group,” citing its support for criminalizing homosexuality in other countries and its opposition to LGBTQ+ civil rights protections in the U.S.

ADF disputes this label, calling it a politically motivated smear and pointing to their broad base of legal professionals and clients who believe their rights are being infringed upon.

Civil liberties groups such as the ACLU, Lambda Legal, and Human Rights Campaign have sharply criticized ADF’s legal tactics, warning that its success could undermine civil rights protections.

Educational and Legislative Impact

ADF offers training programs for law students, resources for churches and pastors, and model legislation for state lawmakers. These include bills aimed at:

• Banning gender-affirming care for minors

• Protecting teachers who misgender students

• Mandating religious exemptions in workplace and healthcare settings

ADF’s influence is particularly strong in red states, where lawmakers often adopt ADF-drafted bills with minimal changes.

A Legal Titan With Questionable Ambitions

There is no denying the Alliance Defending Freedom’s impact on American law and culture. Backed by millions in funding, a network of trained attorneys, and a record of courtroom wins, ADF is shaping national debates on free speech, religion, sexuality, and education—often from behind the scenes.

For some, ADF represents the last legal defense against what they see as an increasingly secular society. For others, it’s a calculated force rolling back civil liberties under the banner of religious freedom.

As the culture wars intensify, ADF is not backing down. And neither, it seems, are its opponents.