Robert McNamara serves as a staff attorney with the Institute for Justice.  He joined the Institute in August 2006 and litigates cutting-edge constitutional cases protecting First Amendment, property rights, economic liberty and other individual liberties in both federal and state courts. 

Currently, Robert is lead counsel representing a Wisconsin gas station owner in a challenge to the state's ban on cheap gasoline.  The Wisconsin Unfair Sales Act, a 1930s relic, makes it illegal to sell gasoline without marking it up either 6 percent over cost or 9.18 percent over the local wholesale price—whichever is higher.  IJ's client was threatened with thousands of dollars in fines because his discounted prices for senior citizens and youth hockey supporters fell below the mandatory minimum. 

Robert also currently represents Bill Brody, a Westchester County, NY, property owner who is fighting against his state's outrageously unfair eminent domain procedures.  His practice has included representing Colorado homeowners in their fight to be able to speak freely about politics without subjecting themselves to the threat of lawsuits from their political opponents. 

In 2006, Robert received his law degree from the New York University School of Law.  While at NYU, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the NYU Journal of Law & Liberty, a scholarly publication dedicated to the critical examination of classical liberal ideas.  In 2003, he earned a dual degree in Communications and Political Science from Boston University.