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David A. Cortman

David A. Cortman

Senior Counsel | Vice President of U.S. Litigation — Alliance Defending Freedom

David A. Cortman serves as senior counsel and vice president of U.S. litigation with Alliance Defending Freedom. He joined ADF in 2005 and currently supervises a team of nearly 40 attorneys and legal staff who specialize in constitutional law, focusing on religious freedom, sanctity of life, and marriage and family. Cortman has successfully litigated hundreds of constitutional law cases in all levels of federal and state court. He has also argued cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, most recently in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, securing a 7-2 victory that challenged Missouri’s denial of a church’s participation in a playground resurfacing program solely because the church is a religious organization. Cortman also argued Reed v. Town of Gilbert, securing a 9-0 ruling that prohibits the government from discriminating against religious speech while favoring political speech. He has served as lead counsel in Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Burwell, successfully challenging Obamacare’s abortion pill mandate; ACSTO v. Winn, successfully defending Arizona’s school choice tuition tax credit program; and Geneva College v. Burwell and Southern Nazarene University v. Burwell, challenging the abortion pill mandate as applied to non-profit religious organizations. He was co-counsel in Town of Greece v. Galloway, successfully defending the freedom of Americans to pray at public meetings. Cortman has appeared as a guest and has written opinion pieces for numerous major media outlets. He earned his J.D. from Regent University School of Law in 1996, graduating magna cum laude. He is a member of the state bar in Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and the District of Columbia, and is admitted to practice in over two dozen federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He also teaches legal courses on the U.S. Constitution and civil rights.

Viewpoints

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1780970146 6a2772a202059
June 9, 2026
Kerby Anderson

High and Low

If you look at the American economy, you see a high and a low. The stock market is at a record high, while consumer sentiment is at the lowest ever measured.

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Book cover faith affirming findings
June 8, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Faith-Affirming Findings

Biblical archaeology seems to be going through a “golden age of apologetics.” One illustration is the fact that over the last two months I have had the privilege of interviewing three authors on their...

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1780883379 6a261fb3cd354
June 5, 2026
Kerby Anderson

Historical Ignorance

Years ago, a doctor wrote an article entitled, “What’s Keeping David McCullough from Sleeping?” This noted historian and award-winning author had trouble sleeping because he was worrying about what wa...

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Take Action

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Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act
April 15, 2026

Support the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act

The abortion pill harms women and kills unborn children. Congress must act.

Support the SAVE Act
April 2, 2026

Support the SAVE Act

SAVE Election Integrity with Voter ID.

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025
January 12, 2026

FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025

Pro-lifers have been abused under the FACE Act for long enough.

Contact Congress About the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025
October 15, 2025

Contact Congress About the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2025

Congress needs to get the job done, not run away from work.