Caroline Grace Brothers is the PIA and 4th Amendment Project Attorney with the Institute for Justice. Since joining IJ’s headquarters office in 2019 as a Constitutional Law Fellow, she has litigated cases concerning free speech, property rights, and economic liberty across the country.
She earned her J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. During law school, she worked as a Dave Kennedy Fellow at IJ, as a law clerk for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and as an Alexander Hamilton Fellow with the C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State. Caroline Grace studied history at Hillsdale College, and she is originally from Nashville, Tennessee.
Caroline Grace is licensed in the District of Columbia.
Caroline Grace's Cases
Private Property | Private Solutions to Public Problems | Zoning Justice Project
North Carolina Animal Sanctuary Fights Back Against Crushing Zoning Restrictions
Kimberly Dunckel founded Fairytale Farm Animal Sanctuary to rescue and care for animals on her 3.33-acre property, but Winston-Salem officials ordered her to close her sanctuary to the public.
First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability
Ohio Man Arrested and Prosecuted for Facebook Joke Appeals to Supreme Court
Anthony Novak was arrested by his local police after he parodied the department on Facebook. His lawsuit against the city was dismissed after the officers were given qualified immunity.
First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability
Louisiana Man Arrested for Facebook Joke Seeks to Hold Sheriff’s Deputies Accountable
Waylon Bailey was arrested after making a joke about his local sheriff's office. His First Amendment lawsuit was dismissed after the deputies were granted qualified immunity.
4th Amendment Project | First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability | Political Speech | Private Property
East Cleveland’s Government Weaponized its Police to Punish a Political Opponent. He’s Fighting to Hold It Accountable.
Cities can’t use the police to punish political speech.
Economic Liberty | Hair Braiding | Occupational Licensing
Three Idaho Women Challenge State’s Requirement for Hair Braiders to Obtain Cosmetology License
Three braiders in Idaho challenged state requirements to spend thousands of dollars and a year of their lives for an unnecessary license.
4th Amendment Project | Rule of Law | Warrantless Surveillance
Florida Parents Partner with IJ to Shut Down Dystopian “Predictive Policing” Program
In true dystopian fashion, Pasco County in Florida, harasses people at their own homes through a method called “predictive policing.” The system tramples on the rights of Pasco residents by placing them under near-constant surveillance. A group of parents have joined with IJ to challenge this unconstitutional system.
Economic Liberty | Food Freedom | Private Solutions to Public Problems
Neighbors Challenge County’s Burdensome Regulations on Little Free Pantries
Thanks to a lawsuit she filed with IJ, Kathy Hay can now share food with her neighbors in Asotin County, Washington, using a “little free pantry” in her backyard. Before the lawsuit, Kathy wasn’t allowed to use the little blue cupboard in her backyard to help feed members of her impoverished community without obtaining government approval and following a list of unnecessary demands from the county health department.
Rule of Law | Unjust Proceedings
Illinois Family Sues to End Law Threatening Them With Compulsory Eviction for a Crime They Did Not Commit
Granite City, Illinois is trying to kick Andy Simpson and Debi Brumit out of their home for a crime they didn’t commit. Andy and Debi are fighting back with IJ to uphold the basic principle that people can’t be punished for crimes they did not commit.
Civil Forfeiture | Private Property
Pennsylvania newspaper fights local district attorney to make forfeiture records public
Americans have a right to know details about misdeeds being committed by their government. LancasterOnline, a publication in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, worked with IJ to ensure citizens have access to information about what police are taking from them through the process of civil forfeiture.
Caroline Grace's Research & Reports
Economic Liberty | Health
Conning the Competition
A certificate of need (CON) is a government-mandated permission slip to start or expand a business. Think of a CON like an expensive admission ticket to access an exclusive club. You can be sure…
Caroline Grace's Amicus Briefs
Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals v. Bedford Recycling, Inc.
Indiana Supreme Court
Villarreal v. Laredo (En Banc)
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States v. $69,490.50 in U.S. Currency
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Villarreal v. Laredo
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Caroline Grace's Letters & Statements
Virginia Cottage Foods Advertising Letter
Richmond, Virginia