Olmstead Briefs

Many briefs below are posted in PDF file format. For your convenience, we have also provided alternate versions for many of these briefs. To view and print PDF files, you will need the free Acrobat Reader.

Brief of the Respondents
This brief—filed on behalf of L.C. and E.W.—gives background on the plaintiffs while also analyzing the Petitioners’ arguments. The brief also provides the legislative history of the ADA. An HTML version of this brief is available by request.

Amicus Briefs in Support of L.C. and E.W.

Brief of the Bazelon Center, American Association on Mental Retardation, et al.
This brief, filed by the Bazelon Center, the American Association on Mental Retardation, and 25 more advocacy and professional organizations, details the rise of institutionalization and the merits of community-based care.

Brief of National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse, et al.
Filed by 10 advocacy and professional organizations and eight mental health consumers and/or professionals, this brief describes case studies of people with disabilities whose conditions have greatly improved since their placement in the community. It also outlines the services and benefits of community-based care. View an unformatted HTML version of the brief.

Brief of 58 Former State Commissioners and Directors of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, et al.
This brief, filed by health professionals from 36 states, outlines the financial benefits of community-based care compared to institutionalization while also stating that a shift toward integrated care would not fundamentally alter state health systems. Biographies of the professionals are in Appendix A. View an unformatted HTML version of this brief and its appendix.