FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2021 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT [email protected] Claremont Institute’s John Eastman, JD Vance, and D.J. Swearingen File Amicus Brief in Ohio Lawsuit to Declare Google a Public Utility Claremont, CA, September 15, 2021—The Claremont Institute’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence (CCJ) yesterday filed an amicus brief in State of Ohio v. Google, a lawsuit filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost asking a Delaware County Court to declare Google a public utility. The filing of the amicus brief follows Google’s motion to dismiss the case. Yost filed the lawsuit against the company in June. JD Vance and D.J. Swearingen joined the Claremont Institute’s John C. Eastman and affiliated attorney Adam Candeub in its filing of the amicus brief, which opposes Google’s motion for dismissal. “The Claremont Institute’s goal is to protect public discourse and a robust marketplace of ideas, and therefore it has a real and substantial interest in the Attorney General’s efforts to protect Ohioan citizens’ ability to communicate and engage in meaningful democratic discourse on today’s public square – the internet,” said Eastman, Founding Director of the Claremont Institute’s CCJ. The parties filing the brief agree that the search engine has exercised an overreach of power to manipulate consumer choice and access to information, threatening Ohioans’ ability to fully engage in public discourse. The amicus brief recognizes the major role Google plays across the political, economic and social spheres of society, and that’s why its services, which are essential and available to all, satisfy the threshold to characterize it as a public service. The amicus brief also asserts that its “monopolistic and anticompetitive behavior” qualifies “as a matter of public concern.” Google’s meeting the criteria of both a public service and public concern deem it a public utility under Ohio law. For these reasons, Claremont’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Vance and Swearingen urge the Court to deny Google’s motion to dismiss the case and protect consumers and ensure that information is displayed and transmitted equally and without discrimination. “Dave Yost deserves to be applauded for this landmark lawsuit which can give Ohio the ability to provide overdue meaningful oversight of Big Technology companies like Google,” said Vance. “I’m proud to join the Claremont Institute and D.J. Swearingen in challenging Big Tech’s stranglehold on the public square.” “Joining the filing of this brief sends a message to Big Tech that Ohioans want a free and open Internet, not interference, censoring or gatekeeping of crucial information,” said Swearingen. “That’s why I’m proud to stand up to Big Tech with the filing of the amicus brief.” The Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence is the public interest law arm of the Claremont Institute, whose stated mission is to restore the principles of the American founding to their rightful and preeminent authority in our national life. About___Magazine___Fellowships___CCJ___Events___Donate The mission of the Claremont Institute is to restore the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life. ‌ ‌ ‌ The Claremont Institute | 1317 W Foothill Blvd #120, Upland, CA 91786 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!