Kevin T. Snider, Esq. - Pacific Justice Institute, Chief Counsel

Kevin Snider has been an attorney since 1994. During that time he has practiced primarily in the area of constitutional law and civil rights. In addition, Snider has sat on a variety of non-profit and faith-based boards as well as acted as corporate legal counsel.

He currently is Chief Counsel for the Pacific Justice Institute. The PJI legal department that he heads has approximately 1,000 attorney affiliates who volunteer their time to represent people of faith and religious organizations. In addition to church law, PJI's legal department provides representation in the areas of parental rights, school law, and employment law as these relate to religious freedom.

Snider has litigated numerous cases in state and federal courts. Of note, he participated in oral argument in the homeschooling case – In re Rachel L. – before the California Court of Appeal. In re Rachel L., also known as In re Jonathan L., was a case which received nationwide attention when the Court originally found homeschooling to be illegal in California. The Court reversed itself after oral argument in the summer of 2008.

In addition, Snider’s current caseload includes serving as PJI’s lead attorney defending the national motto – In God We Trust – where he, along with an attorney from the U.S. Department of Justice, argued the case before the Ninth Circuit in December of 2007. PJI intervened as a co-defendant with the federal government.

He also represents Drs. Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery who are being challenged in a lawsuit for giving the invocation and benediction at the inauguration of President Obama. That case also challenges the use of "so help me God," frequently used when the president takes the oath of office. Snider successfully argued against the request for an injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia just days prior to the inauguration. The case is currently before the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals - D.C. Circuit.

Snider also gives legal counsel to pastors on a day in and day out basis on a variety of church issues. He has taught church law to seminary students and is a frequent presenter at seminars on church law and religious liberties.

He and his wife of 20 years, Chenyuan, live in the Sacramento area with their two children.