The Louis D. Brandeis Center Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism, Inc. v. State of California

Summary

Jewish families and the Brandeis Center Coalition sued the State of California, the State Board of Education, the California Department of Education, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, alleging the State has failed to enforce its own civil rights laws while antisemitic harassment, segregation of Jewish students, and biased ethnic studies instruction spread through K-12 public schools. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief — statewide monitoring of antisemitism complaints, expert review of ethnic studies curricula and teacher trainings used since 2021, and an independent compliance monitor.

Case developments

1. February 26, 2026

   Complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court

   The Brandeis Center Coalition and four Jewish families filed suit against the State of California, the State Board of Education, the California Department of Education, and Superintendent Tony Thurmond, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief over the State's failure to address antisemitism in K-12 schools.

2. 2026

   First Amended Complaint

   Plaintiffs amended the complaint, keeping three causes of action under the California Constitution's Equal Protection and Free Exercise Clauses.

3. August 21, 2026

   State demurs to the First Amended Complaint

   The Attorney General, for the State and the Board of Education, argued the defendants are not proper parties, the case is not justiciable, judicial abstention applies, and plaintiffs failed to plead the elements of each claim — asking the court to sustain the demurrer without leave to amend.

4. December 3, 2026

   Demurrer hearing scheduled

   Department 14, Hon. Bruce G. Iwasaki, 9:30 a.m., 312 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles.

Court filings

• Complaint for Declaratory, Injunctive and Other Equitable Relief (Feb. 26, 2026)View
• State of California and State Board of Education's Demurrer to the First Amended Complaint (Aug. 21, 2026)View