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Led by Charles LiMandri, the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund (FCDF) is a team of experienced trial lawyers who provide pro bono legal services and spearhead educational initiatives on issues related to religious freedom, bioethics, and family values.  Specifically, FCDF defends the conscience rights and constitutional liberties of people of all or no faith — free of charge. What makes FCDF unique — and much-needed — is its focus on trial-level litigation. Whereas other public interest law firms tend to focus their work at the appellate level, FCDF has seasoned expertise to defend Americans in courtrooms nationwide. The importance of trial level litigation is critical: Too many cases never get to the appellate level because harassed, oppressed, and intimidated men and women do not have the financial resources to defend their rights at trial. That’s where FCDF comes in.

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For more than 30 years, Charles LiMandri has passionately practiced law and successfully
represented clients in business litigation, product liability, medical malpractice, insurance, construction, real estate, environmental, maritime and personal injury cases through his private law firm. Since 1983, he has handled numerous high-profile civil law and pro-bono religious liberty cases including defending the Mt. Soledad Cross, San Diego Firefighters, Priests for Life, JONAH and many other organizations in state and federal courts, as well as before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. LiMandri is double Board Certified in Pre-Trial Litigation and Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has owned and operated his private law firm for 27 years. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and is admitted to practice law in California, New York, Washington, D.C. and before the United States Supreme Court. An accomplished trial advocate with a national reputation, Mr. LiMandri founded the non-profit Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund (FCDF) in September 2012, to help allow others to support the mounting escalation and intensity of religious freedom cases. He currently leads a team of attorneys that handle religious liberty and other culture war cases involving pro-life, marriage and traditional family values. Charles LiMandri received his law degree from Georgetown University Law School in 1983 and a diploma in International Law and Relations from the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth as a Rotary International Graduate Fellow in 1980. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Circle (for obtaining verdicts and settlements in excess of a million dollars) and holds the highest (A.V.) rating for legal skills and ethics (by fellow attorneys and judges) in the Martindale-Hubbell national directory of attorneys. He also is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and Super Lawyers. In addition to his many community service activities and professional affiliations, in 2012 LiMandri successfully co-chaired a capital campaign with San Diego Charger Quarterback Philip Rivers to bring Catholic Radio to San Diego through Immaculate Heart Radio. He also hosted his own radio show “From the Front Line of the Culture War.” Mr. LiMandri is a frequent author and lecturer who has appeared and been published locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. He has also been a featured guest speaker on radio and television including the Fox News Network. He is a member of the Board of Editors of the California Tort Reporter and the California Insurance Law and Regulation Reporter, both of which are published by West Group. He and his wife Barbara have been married 23 years and have five children. They reside in north San Diego County.