CeCe Heil

CeCe Heil is Senior Counsel and International Legal Director for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). She is an internationally respected human rights attorney whose career has been defined by unwavering advocacy for religious freedom, rule of law, and the protection of vulnerable faith communities worldwide. At the ACLJ, she leads a global team of attorneys advancing cases at the intersection of human rights, national security, and international law. Her work spans the defense of life, the protection of U.S. interests abroad, and the strategic legal response to authoritarian regimes and violent extremism.

Heil was the lead attorney responsible for securing the release of American Pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey and American Pastor Bryan Nerren from India—two high‑stakes international cases that required coordinated legal strategy, diplomatic engagement, and sustained public pressure. Her work has become a model for effective, faith‑based international legal intervention.

Heil’s influence extends across global institutions. She is a seasoned advocate before the United Nations Human Rights Council, where she regularly presents on behalf of persecuted Christians facing imprisonment, violence, and systemic discrimination. Under her direction, the ACLJ, through its affiliate, the European Center for Law & Justice, has submitted Universal Periodic Review reports on nearly every U.N. Member State—many multiple times—documenting violations ranging from blasphemy laws and anti‑conversion statutes to state‑sponsored religious repression and mob violence, and she successfully works with U.N. Special Procedures.

A sought‑after speaker and recognized authority on global religious liberty, Heil brings a rare combination of legal expertise, diplomatic experience, and moral clarity. She is an advocate who does not merely document persecution — she confronts it in international forums, challenges it through strategic litigation, and mobilizes policymakers to act. Her 34-year career reflects a deep commitment to defending the fundamental right of every person to live out their faith freely and without fear.