Career overview

Before leading the Law of Life Project beginning in 2011, Mr. Casey served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Advocates International and, for more than 14 years, as Executive Director and CEO of the Christian Legal Society, where he oversaw the Center for Law & Religious Freedom and its life advocacy affiliate. He was founding chairman of the Alliance Defense Fund (now Alliance Defending Freedom), Dean of Trinity Law School, and earlier a partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe after clerking for justices of the California Supreme Court.

His work defended pregnancy help centers, informed consent, bioethics, and the dignity of human life from conception.

Landmark advocacy

Cases that shaped the Project

1. Sherley v. Sebelius: counsel for scientists challenging federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research
2. Nova Health Systems v. Edmondson: defending Oklahoma's informed-consent ultrasound requirement
3. Defense of pregnancy help centers against compelled speech and regulatory overreach nationwide

Institutions he led and helped build

• Advocates International and the Law of Life Project: global and U.S. life advocacy counsel
• Christian Legal Society: Executive Director and CEO for more than 14 years
• Alliance Defense Fund (Alliance Defending Freedom): founding board chairman

Education and early career

Mr. Casey earned a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He began his career as a law clerk to Associate Justices Marcus M. Kaufman and Armand Arabian of the California Supreme Court before private practice in San Francisco.

Samuel B. Casey passed away on August 15, 2025. The Law of Life Project continues the work he helped establish: clear legal frameworks, principled advocacy, and public education in defense of human life.