Thomas Moore Law Center

OVERVIEW

The Thomas More Law Center is a pro bono legal firm founded in 1999 by Richard Thompson (former Oakland County, Michigan prosecutor) and co-founded by Tom Monaghan (Domino's Pizza founder). The center acts on behalf of the Christian far-right and has been designated as an anti-Muslim hate group by the SPLC since 2019. Thompson has told USA Today that Islam is "more than a religion" and "a political ideology that calls for the Islamic domination of the world."

KEY FIGURES

Richard Thompson (President/Chief Counsel) — Former Oakland County prosecutor.

Tom Monaghan (Co-founder) — Domino's Pizza founder who financed the center's establishment.

FUNDING

Primarily financed by individual contributions and foundations. Received $30,000 through Donors Trust, the donor-advised fund described as the "dark money ATM of the right."

ANTI-MUSLIM LEGAL CAMPAIGNS

• Byron Union School District (2002): Sued claiming school curriculum required students to "pretend to be Muslims." The 9th Circuit found no violation; SCOTUS declined review.
• Olmsted Falls City School District (2013): Threatened the district to remove an "Islamic proselytizing video." The school removed it, citing inability to afford litigation.
• Mosque construction cases: Filed lawsuits arguing residents were prohibited from mentioning "Islam" at public hearings on mosque construction.
• Refugee resettlement: Represented state assemblies seeking to withdraw from federal refugee resettlement programs.

DESIGNATIONS

SPLC: Designated as an anti-Muslim hate group (2019).