Institute for Justice
Liberty & Law
Latest Issue
In This Issue
Are Government Officials Above the Law?
IJ launched our Project on Immunity and Accountability earlier this year to defend a simple principle: Government officials are not above the law. If you and I must follow the law, the government and its agents must follow the Constitution. IJ will now advance that argument before the U.S. Supreme Court, which this spring agreed…
Update on IJ’s Project on Immunity and Accountability
As James King’s case illustrates, IJ’s new Project on Immunity and Accountability is already bearing fruit. Meanwhile, the high court is still considering our petition on behalf of Shaniz West, whose house was destroyed when local authorities bombarded it with grenades and then relied on qualified immunity to evade accountability. And James and Shaniz are…
Property Owners Sue to Ensure “No Trespassing” Signs Apply to Government, Too
Americans expect their private property to be off limits to wandering feet and prying eyes—especially when those feet and eyes belong to government officers. Indeed, the Constitution’s protection from unwanted intrusions dates to the Founding, and it’s just as crucial in the era of modern surveillance technology. But in the Volunteer State, officers from the…
A New Weapon in IJ’s Fight Against Abusive Fines and Fees
IJ’s battle against abusive fines and fees has never been more important. With the COVID-19 shutdown, cities and towns are likely to find themselves strapped for cash in the coming months. If the last recession is any indication, many will see “taxation by citation” as an easy fix. Thanks to IJ strategic research, however, we…
IJ’s Wave of Legislative Victories Lifts Economic Hopes
Everyone knows this is a tough time for small businesses. But in state capitals around the nation, a wave of help is on the way, and IJ’s legislative reform team is the force creating it. The wave can already be seen from Florida’s sandy beaches, where IJ was instrumental in passing one of the largest…
Opening Opportunities and Challenging Government Abuse: IJ Responds to COVID-19
The trying past few months have demanded the best of all of us—and the Institute for Justice is no exception. Though many industries have ground to a halt, courts nationwide remain open, arguments are happening (albeit on Zoom), filing deadlines are in place, and our clients’ rights must still be vindicated. In addition to pushing…
RESCHEDULED: IJ’s Partners Retreat Moved to Fall 2021
As we’ve detailed in this issue of Liberty & Law, IJ is moving quickly to respond to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also decided, given the current circumstances, to postpone our 2020 Partners Retreat until October 21–24, 2021. Partners Retreats take place just once every few years and offer a rare…
IJ Won’t Be CONned: Two New Lawsuits Challenging State Certificate of Need Laws
COVID-19 is not the only thing testing the limits of our health care system. For decades, lobbyists have persuaded states to enact certificate of need—or “CON”—laws, which grant entrenched players the power to keep would-be competitors from opening shop. Unsurprisingly, these policies have reduced the quality and quantity of medical care for patients. Studies even…
IJ Helps Small Businesses Keep Their Doors Open—Online
Here in Chicago, the IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship works tirelessly to help low-income entrepreneurs overcome the city’s infamous regulatory maze and launch their businesses. So when a global pandemic brought the nation and the economy to a standstill, we went into overdrive to help local entrepreneurs stay in business. The idea? Develop and promote a…
How the New CARES Act May Affect Your Charitable Giving
During these anxious times, IJ’s work guarding against government overreach is more important than ever—and so is your support. The legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of American life, and charitable giving to organizations like IJ is no exception. On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed a sprawling $2 trillion emergency…
Remembering IJ Board Member Abby Thernstrom
Abigail Thernstrom served with distinction as an IJ board member from 1995 until her death in April 2020. We could not have asked for a better board member all those years. Abby brought her keen intellect and thoughtful insights to every discussion while always being gracious and devoted to the IJ mission. Abby joined the…
IJ Makes Headlines
These articles and editorials are just a sample of favorable local and national pieces IJ secured in the weeks prior to the release of the June issue of Liberty & Law. By getting our message out in print, radio, broadcast, and online media, we show the real-world consequences of government restrictions on individual liberty—and make…
