Fighting for Justice. Defending Freedom.
IJ is a nonprofit, public interest law firm that represents everyday people — free of charge — when the government violates their most important constitutional rights. We focus on the areas of law that provide the foundation for a free society, and we win nearly three out of every four cases we file.
70%
Win Rate
Nearly 3 out of 4 cases won against the government
400+
Cases Filed
Across 50 states
35
Years
Since 1991
20,000+
Properties Saved
From government abuse
11
SCOTUS Wins
13 cases argued
$21M+
Assets Returned
Via forfeiture fights
300+
Legislative Reforms
To protect individual rights
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Our Pillars and Projects
IJ’s work targets the core freedoms that form the foundation of a free society: the right to own and enjoy property, speak freely, earn a living, and to be subject to fair and accountable laws and regulations. We have litigated hundreds of cases on behalf of thousands of individuals under those four pillars, and Americans are measurably freer in each area as a direct result of our work.
We build on this work through six projects that target major injustices in America today.
Our Pillars
Economic Liberty
IJ believes that all people have the right to earn an honest living in the occupation of their choice without arbitrary, unnecessary, or protectionist government interference.
Private Property
The government has extraordinary power to take, regulate, and destroy private property — and too often it abuses that power. IJ fights back.
First Amendment
IJ fights for the right to speak freely about the issues that matter most to ordinary people and to defend the free flow of information essential to democratic government and free enterprise.
Rule of Law
IJ fights for individual freedom when it’s threatened by unchecked abuse of government power.
Our Projects
Project on Immunity and Accountability
IJ combats legal doctrines that stand in the way of meaningful accountability for government mistakes and misconduct.
Project on the 4th Amendment
Every American is now at risk of government searches, seizures, and surveillance. IJ defends vital rights to privacy and security.
Ending Civil Forfeiture
Under civil forfeiture, people can permanently lose their property without a criminal conviction or even charges. This is one of the gravest abuses of power in the country today, and IJ aims to put a stop to it.
Food Freedom
All individuals have the right to produce, advertise, sell, procure, and consume the foods of their choice. IJ ensures they can use these rights to provide for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Zoning Justice
Arbitrary and abusive zoning practices make our society less free and less prosperous. IJ stands up for all Americans’ right to use their property peacefully and productively, without undue government interference.
Education Entrepreneurship
IJ’s Education Entrepreneurship Project focuses on reducing common barriers to innovation in education—including licensing, zoning, and speech regulations—all issues that IJ litigates.
Recent Updates
South Bend Mom’s Fight for Compensation After Police Wrecked Her Home Heads to State Court After Supreme Court Turns Down Appeal
WASHINGTON—Amy Hadley’s South Bend home was wrecked in June 2022 when police raided it looking for a fugitive who was never there and who had no connection to the family. After…
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Los Angeles Business Owner’s Case Seeking Compensation After SWAT Team Destroyed Shop
WASHINGTON—Today, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear a Los Angeles small business owner’s lawsuit seeking compensation after a SWAT team destroyed his print shop while pursuing a fugitive…
Nitro Nostalgia, an Ice Cream and Board Game Café, Wins South Side Pitch Competition
CHICAGO—The Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship (IJ Clinic)’s 13th Annual South Side Pitch announced that Nitro Nostalgia, an ice cream and board game café, took first place among the five…
Appeals Court Rules Against Ohio EdChoice Program, Parents Will Appeal to Ohio Supreme Court
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Today, the Ohio Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s Educational Choice Scholarship program is unconstitutional. Five families who use the program, represented by the Partnership…
Venus Woman Fights City’s Unconstitutional Ban on Home Daycares
VENUS, Texas—Rosi Paredes followed state law when setting up her home daycare in Venus, and the state approved her business. But the city told her that it bans home daycares, even…
Court Denies Immunity for Judge Who Personally Jailed Two Innocent Kids, Upholds Damages
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—On Tuesday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a judge who personally jailed two innocent children after a 2019 custody hearing is not entitled to qualified immunity…
Texas City Hits Learning Pod with Cease-and-Desist in Violation of State Law
After working in K-12 education for nearly 30 years, including teaching special education and serving as a summer school principal, in 2025 Ruby Brock founded the Westmoreland…
New Decision in Ongoing Legal Saga of Atlanta Family Wrongly Raided by FBI SWAT Team
ATLANTA—A three-judge panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in the years long lawsuit brought by an Atlanta family whose home was mistakenly raided by…
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Denver Man’s Case to Revive Fourth Amendment’s Warrant Requirements
WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a Denver man who challenged the constitutionality of a warrant that led to his wrongful arrest. Michael Mendenhall’s townhome was…
Watch the Stories Behind the Cases
Hear directly from the people at the center of important legal fights, as we stand up for the rights of all Americans.
