Institute for Justice

Gray v. Maine Dept. of Public Safety

Case

IJ defends the free flow of information, whether it deals with politics or commerce. Such information is indispensable to our democratic form of government and to our system of free enterprise.

Filter by Case Status

Lawsuit

Joshua Gray criticized the police—so they denied him an occupational license Gray v. Maine Dept. of Public Safety

Filed: 1630627200September 3, 2021

Location: Maine

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

North Carolina Board Tells Retired Engineer He Can’t Talk About Engineering North Carolina Engineering Speech

Filed: 1623283200June 10, 2021

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Virginia therapist launches a second First Amendment challenge to protect the right to practice talk therapy online across state lines New York Teletherapy

Filed: 1617667200April 6, 2021

Location: Albany, New York

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

North Carolina’s Surveying Board Grounds Small-Business Drone Operators North Carolina Drones

Filed: 1616371200March 22, 2021

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing
Lawsuit

First Amendment lawsuit seeks to protect the right to practice talk therapy across state lines D.C. Teletherapy

Filed: 1607472000December 9, 2020

Location: Washington, D.C.

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Small Wisconsin Town Weaponizes Code Enforcement to Enrich a Private Law Firm and Target Its Critics Eagle, WI Fines and Fees

Filed: 1604880000November 9, 2020

Location: Eagle, Wisconsin

Status: Pending

First Amendment Private Property
Lawsuit

Oklahoma requires vegan products to rewrite their labels to the meat lobby’s satisfaction Oklahoma Compelled Speech

Filed: 1600214400September 16, 2020

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Status: Pending

Commercial Speech First Amendment Food Freedom
Lawsuit

State Funeral Bureau opposes resurgence of a meaningful American tradition California End-of-Life Doulas

Filed: 1593475200June 30, 2020

Location: Sacramento, CA

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment
Lawsuit

An Arizona county uses its zoning code to suspend constitutional rights Yavapai Free Speech and Association

Filed: 1590451200May 26, 2020

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

Lawsuit Challenges Arizona Engineering Licensing Law Arizona Engineering Licensing

Filed: 1575504000December 5, 2019

Location: Chandler, AZ

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing
Lawsuit

Charlottesville Treats Members of Its Creative Community Like ATMs Charlottesville Writer Tax

Filed: 1563926400July 24, 2019

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Status: Pending

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Mississippi Makes Selling “Veggie Burgers” a Crime Mississippi Food Labeling Law

Filed: 1562025600July 2, 2019

Location: Jackson, Mississippi

Status: Closed

First Amendment Food Freedom
Lawsuit

Mandan's "mural police" goes after art the city does not like Mandan, ND Mural

Filed: 1558396800May 21, 2019

Location: Bismarck, ND

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Ron Mugar successfully stopped the city's plan to take his home—and they're still making him pay Norco, CA Enforcement Fees

Filed: 1554163200April 2, 2019

Location: Norco, California

Status: Pending

Fines and Fees First Amendment Other Property Rights Abuses Private Property
Lawsuit

Coast Guard-empowered private association concocts reasons to keep an experienced captain from working Great Lakes Pilot

Filed: 1551830400March 6, 2019

Location: Palm Beach, Florida

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Transportation
Lawsuit

Government Gag Orders

Filed: 1546992000January 9, 2019

Location: Washington, D.C.

Status: Pending

First Amendment
Lawsuit

License to Teach? Virginia Stops Family Business From Teaching Useful Job Skills Virginia Teaching

Filed: 1545609600December 24, 2018

Location: Richmond, VA

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Texas Veterinarian Renews Fight to Give Professional Advice Online Texas Veterinary Speech II

Filed: 1538438400October 2, 2018

Location: Brownsville, TX

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Health Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Outdated Federal Law Threatens Unique Richmond Publisher Virginia Books

Filed: 1534377600August 16, 2018

Location: Washington, D.C.

Status: Pending

Commercial Speech First Amendment Other Property Rights Abuses Private Property
Lawsuit

Mississippi Regulatory Board Sues Tech Entrepreneurs to Prevent Competition Mississippi Mapping

Filed: 1531180800July 10, 2018

Location: Canton, MS

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Maryland Dairy Farmers Sue for Right to Tell the Truth FDA Skim Milk

Filed: 1522886400April 5, 2018

Location: Harrisburg, PA

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Food Freedom Food Freedom
Lawsuit

Lawsuit Challenges California Law Criminalizing Teaching Trade Skills California Trade Schools

Filed: 1508803200October 24, 2017

Location: Sacramento, CA

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Florida Health Coach Threatened with Jail and Big Fines for Merely Offering Dietary Advice Florida Diet Coaching

Filed: 1506988800October 3, 2017

Location: Pensacola, FL

Status: Pending

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

License to Teach: North Carolina Forces Makeup Artists to Teach Unrelated Skills or Face Thousands in Fines North Carolina Makeup Schools

Filed: 1503446400August 23, 2017

Location: Charlotte, NC

Status: Closed

Cosmetology Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Illegal Math? A state board in Oregon is punishing people for talking about traffic lights and any other “engineering” topics Oregon Engineering Speech

Filed: 1493078400April 25, 2017

Location: Beaverton, OR

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Video game store sues to protect its inflatable Mario sign Orange Park Sign

Filed: 1491436800April 6, 2017

Location: Jacksonville, FL

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Alabama prohibits nonprofit worker from speaking and petitioning the government unless she first flies to Alabama to take a government-mandated ethics class Alabama Right to Petition

Filed: 1472601600August 31, 2016

Location: Montgomery

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Recent Court of Appeals Ruling Disarms Political Speakers, Empowers Campaign Finance Bullies Colorado Lawyer Free Speech

Filed: 1471478400August 18, 2016

Location: Denver, Colorado

Status: Closed

Campaign Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

Charleston Tour Guides Challenge Unconstitutional License to Talk Charleston Tour Guides

Filed: 1453939200January 28, 2016

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech Tour Guides
Lawsuit

Colorado’s private-enforcement law empowers political insiders to silence any ordinary speaker they disagree with. Colorado Private Enforcement

Filed: 1453334400January 21, 2016

Location: Denver, CO

Status: Closed

Campaign Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

Censored in Florida: Creamery Owner Sues to End Labeling Censorship Florida Skim Milk

Filed: 1416441600November 20, 2014

Location: Florida

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment Food Freedom
Lawsuit

Government Cannot Decide Who Is, Or Is Not, Allowed To Tell A Story Savannah Tour Guides

Filed: 1416182400November 17, 2014

Location: Savannah, GA

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech Tour Guides
Lawsuit

Donors, Candidates Sue to Overturn Restrictive Campaign Finance Law: Minnesota Regulation Dishes Out First Amendment Rights on a First-Come, First-Served Basis Minnesota Campaign Speech Limits

Filed: 1397001600April 9, 2014

Location: Minnesota

Status: Closed

Campaign Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

Got Free Speech? Oregon Dairy Farmer Challenges Censorship of Raw Milk Advertising Oregon Raw Milk

Filed: 1384819200November 19, 2013

Location: Oregon

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment Food Freedom
Lawsuit

Sacramento Sign Police Target Small Business: Gym Tells City It Needs To Get With The Program Sacramento Signs

Filed: 1376352000August 13, 2013

Location: Sacramento

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Psychology Board Censors Advice Column: America’s Longest-Running Advice Columnist Files Free Speech Lawsuit After Being Threatened with Jail and Told to Stop Publishing His Column in Kentucky Kentucky Psychology Speech

Filed: 1374105600July 18, 2013

Location: Kentucky

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission vs. America’s Civil Rights Laws: Government Agency Seeks to Silence Not Only Citizen Activists, But Their Public Interest Lawyers, Too Washington Recall 2: Lawyer Free Speech

Filed: 1371081600June 13, 2013

Location: Washington

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Retired Texas Vet’s Free-Speech Fight to Keep Helping Animals Texas Veterinary Speech

Filed: 1365465600April 9, 2013

Location: Texas

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Health Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Putting a New Face on Liberty: Nevada Makeup Artists Fight for Their Right to Teach Nevada Makeup

Filed: 1340064000June 19, 2012

Location: Nevada

Status: Closed

Cosmetology Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Caveman Blogger Fights for Free Speech and Internet Freedom: Challenging the Government’s Authority to Censor Ordinary Advice North Carolina Free Speech

Filed: 1338336000May 30, 2012

Location: North Carolina

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech
Lawsuit

Federal Appellate Court OKs City’s Crackdown on Protest Sign:  4th Circuit fails to protect Norfolk business’ eminent domain protest banner; lawyers, business owners vow appeal to U.S. Supreme Court Norfolk, VA Sign

Filed: 1335916800May 2, 2012

Location: Norfolk, VA

Status: Closed

First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Challenging New Orleans’ Tour-Guide Licensing Scheme NOLA Tours

Filed: 1323734400December 13, 2011

Location: New Orleans

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech Tour Guides
Lawsuit

Arizona Citizen Files First Amendment Lawsuit Challenging Speech Regulations Fountain Hills, Ariz. Speech

Filed: 1320364800November 4, 2011

Location: Arizona

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Protecting Citizen Speech: Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of Mississippi Campaign Finance Regulations Continues Nationwide Campaign Mississippi Citizen Speech

Filed: 1319068800October 20, 2011

Location: Mississippi

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Campaign Finance Laws versus Good Government: Washington’s Laws Frustrate the People’s Ability to Recall Abusive Elected Officials Washington Recall

Filed: 1307404800June 7, 2011

Location: Washington

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

IJ Fights to Unleash Free Speech: Challenging Arlington, Virginia’s Unconstitutional Sign Ordinance Shirlington Dog Park Mural

Filed: 1291248000December 2, 2010

Location: Arlington, VA

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Protecting Citizen Speech: Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality Of Florida Campaign Finance Regulations Kicks Off Nationwide Campaign Florida Citizen Speech

Filed: 1285718400September 29, 2010

Location: Florida

Status: Closed

Campaign Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

License to Describe: Challenging Washington D.C.’s Tour-Guide Licensing Scheme D.C. Tour Guides

Filed: 1284595200September 16, 2010

Location: DC

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech Tour Guides
Lawsuit

Protecting Americans’ Right To Engage In Grassroots Political Activism Washington Grassroots Lobbying

Filed: 1271289600April 15, 2010

Location: Washington

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Teaching is Not a Crime: Challenging Virginia’s Unconstitutional Vocational School Licensing Law Virginia Yoga Challenge

Filed: 1259625600December 1, 2009

Location: Virginia

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment
Lawsuit

Dallas Sign Ban Hurts Small Businesses, Violates First Amendment Rights: Law Makes It Nearly Impossible For Entrepreneurs to Advertise Dallas Sign Ban

Filed: 1257811200November 10, 2009

Location: Dallas

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Free to Design: Challenging Florida’s Unconstitutional Interior Design Law Florida Interior Design

Filed: 1243382400May 27, 2009

Location: Florida

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Interior Design Interior Design
Lawsuit

Dangerous Trend: Bulldozing Free Speech Texas Eminent Domain Censorship

Filed: 1224720000October 23, 2008

Location: Texas

Status: Closed

First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Taking on Florida’s Political Speech Police: Challenging Campaign Finance Laws That Create a Statewide “No Speech Zone” Florida Political Speech

Filed: 1223424000October 8, 2008

Location: Florida

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Challenging Oklahoma's Licensing of Speech For Interior Designers Oklahoma Interior Design

Filed: 1222732800September 30, 2008

Location:

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Interior Design Interior Design
Lawsuit

Challenging Connecticut’s Licensing of Speech For Interior Designers Connecticut Interior Design

Filed: 1220918400September 9, 2008

Location: Connecticut

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Interior Design Interior Design
Lawsuit

Grassroots Tyranny in the Cradle of the Constitution: Philadelphia Tour Guides Stand Up For the Framers’ Vision of Freedom Philadelphia Tour Guides

Filed: 1214956800July 2, 2008

Location: Philadelphia

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing Occupational Speech Tour Guides
Lawsuit

Vindicating the Right to Protest Eminent Domain Abuse: Tennesseans Sued by Thin-Skinned Politician and Developers Fight Back Clarksville, TN Eminent Domain Protest

Filed: 1214784000June 30, 2008

Location: Tennessee

Status: Closed

First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Texas Government-mandated Computer Repair License Does Not Compute Texas Computer Repair

Filed: 1214438400June 26, 2008

Location: Texas

Status: Closed

Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing
Lawsuit

SpeechNow.org v. FEC Protecting Americans’ Rights To Organize and Speak About Politics SpeechNow.org

Filed: 1202947200February 14, 2008

Location: DC

Status: Closed

Campaign Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

Signs of Abuse: Fighting Censorship and Eminent Domain Abuse in St. Louis St. Louis Signs

Filed: 1178668800May 9, 2007

Location: St. Louis

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Challenging Texas’ Licensing of Speech For Interior Designers Texas Interior Design

Filed: 1178668800May 9, 2007

Location: Texas

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Interior Design
Lawsuit

Silencing Political Speech: Colorado’s Campaign Finance Laws Stifle Political Debate Parker North, CO Free Speech

Filed: 1158624000September 19, 2006

Location: Parker North, CO

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Challenging New Mexico’s Licensing of Speech For Interior Designers New Mexico Interior Design

Filed: 1157587200September 7, 2006

Location: New Mexico

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Interior Design Interior Design
Lawsuit

Battling the Real Estate Establishment: New Hampshire’s Free Speech Rights Not For Sale New Hampshire Free Speech

Filed: 1150156800June 13, 2006

Location: New Hampshire

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Challenging Minnesota’s Advertising and Internet Speech Ban That Bottles Up Wineries and Consumers Minnesota Winery Internet Speech

Filed: 1129075200October 12, 2005

Location: Minnesota

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

Stifling Political Speech: Stifling Political Speech: Challenging Colorado’s Campaign Finance Regulations Colorado Free Speech

Filed: 1127692800September 26, 2005

Location: Colorado

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Free Speech Under Fire: Politically Motivated Prosecutors Seek to Restrict Media Discussion of Political Issues Washington No New Gas Tax

Filed: 1123545600August 9, 2005

Location: Washington

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Advertising Ban Is Sign of Big Government: Washington's City of Lynnwood Bans Signs For Businesses But Not for Politicians Lynnwood, WA Sign Ordinance

Filed: 1087862400June 22, 2004

Location: Lynnwood, WA

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

The Dirty Truth about Arizona’s “Clean Elections” Act: U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Strike Down Program that Discourages Free Speech, Puts Thumb on Scales for Government-Funded Political Candidates Arizona Campaign Finance (Second Challenge)

Filed: 1075334400January 29, 2004

Location: Arizona

Status: Closed

Campaign Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

Got Free Speech?: IJ & Independent Dairy Farmers Challenge Mandatory Milk Advertising “Got Milk” Ad Campaign

Filed: 1059955200August 4, 2003

Location: DC

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Banning “For Sale” Signs: The Latest Sign of a Growing Nanny State Glendale, OH Free Speech

Filed: 1059523200July 30, 2003

Location: Glendale, OH

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech First Amendment Sign Codes
Lawsuit

Vindicating Free Speech: City of Redmond Sign Ordinance Punches Hole in Bagel Entrepreneur’s First Amendment Rights Redmond, WA Free Speech

Filed: 1058832000July 22, 2003

Location: Redmond, WA

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Food Freedom Sign Codes
Lawsuit

The Michigan Education Association Tries to Take the "Free" Out of "Free Speech" Mackinac Free Speech

Filed: 1053475200May 21, 2003

Location: Michigan

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

A Web of Restrictions?: Challenging California’s Free Speech Restrictions on Internet Real Estate Advertising Sites California Internet Real Estate Restrictions

Filed: 1052870400May 14, 2003

Location: California

Status: Closed

Commercial Speech Economic Liberty First Amendment Occupational Licensing
Lawsuit

Challenging Barriers To Free Speech & Free Enterprise In New Orleans: City of Literary Lore Bans Book Vending New Orleans Book Ban

Filed: 1049760000April 8, 2003

Location: New Orleans

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Vindicating Free Speech: Doughnut Entrepreneur Punches Holes In City of Mesa Sign Ordinance That Chills Speech Mesa, AZ Signs

Filed: 1041984000January 8, 2003

Location: Mesa, Arizona

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

Challenging Coerced Subsidies for the Political Class: A First Amendment Lawsuit Arizona Campaign Finance (First Challenge)

Filed: 936835200September 9, 1999

Location: Arizona

Status: Closed

Campaign Speech First Amendment
Lawsuit

North Dakota Micro-Radio

Filed: 891216000March 30, 1998

Location: North Dakota

Status: Closed

First Amendment
Lawsuit

The CFTC vs. The First Amendment: The Federal Government's Assault on Free Speech CFTC Challenge

Filed: 870220800July 30, 1997

Location: DC

Status: Closed

First Amendment

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First Amendment

Institute for Justice

Gray v. Maine Dept. of Public Safety

Case

Filter by Case Status

Lawsuit

Joshua Gray criticized the police—so they denied him an occupational license Gray v. Maine Dept. of Public Safety

Filed: 1630627200September 3, 2021

Location: Maine

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

North Carolina Board Tells Retired Engineer He Can’t Talk About Engineering North Carolina Engineering Speech

Filed: 1623283200June 10, 2021

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

Virginia therapist launches a second First Amendment challenge to protect the right to practice talk therapy online across state lines New York Teletherapy

Filed: 1617667200April 6, 2021

Location: Albany, New York

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

North Carolina’s Surveying Board Grounds Small-Business Drone Operators North Carolina Drones

Filed: 1616371200March 22, 2021

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

First Amendment lawsuit seeks to protect the right to practice talk therapy across state lines D.C. Teletherapy

Filed: 1607472000December 9, 2020

Location: Washington, D.C.

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

Small Wisconsin Town Weaponizes Code Enforcement to Enrich a Private Law Firm and Target Its Critics Eagle, WI Fines and Fees

Filed: 1604880000November 9, 2020

Location: Eagle, Wisconsin

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

Oklahoma requires vegan products to rewrite their labels to the meat lobby’s satisfaction Oklahoma Compelled Speech

Filed: 1600214400September 16, 2020

Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

State Funeral Bureau opposes resurgence of a meaningful American tradition California End-of-Life Doulas

Filed: 1593475200June 30, 2020

Location: Sacramento, CA

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

An Arizona county uses its zoning code to suspend constitutional rights Yavapai Free Speech and Association

Filed: 1590451200May 26, 2020

Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Status: Closed

Lawsuit

Lawsuit Challenges Arizona Engineering Licensing Law Arizona Engineering Licensing

Filed: 1575504000December 5, 2019

Location: Chandler, AZ

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

Charlottesville Treats Members of Its Creative Community Like ATMs Charlottesville Writer Tax

Filed: 1563926400July 24, 2019

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

Mississippi Makes Selling “Veggie Burgers” a Crime Mississippi Food Labeling Law

Filed: 1562025600July 2, 2019

Location: Jackson, Mississippi

Status: Closed

Lawsuit

Mandan's "mural police" goes after art the city does not like Mandan, ND Mural

Filed: 1558396800May 21, 2019

Location: Bismarck, ND

Status: Closed

Lawsuit

Ron Mugar successfully stopped the city's plan to take his home—and they're still making him pay Norco, CA Enforcement Fees

Filed: 1554163200April 2, 2019

Location: Norco, California

Status: Pending

Lawsuit

Coast Guard-empowered private association concocts reasons to keep an experienced captain from working Great Lakes Pilot

Filed: 1551830400March 6, 2019

Location: Palm Beach, Florida

Status: Pending