First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability

J.T.H. v. Spring Cook

Investigations can be an effective tool for intimidation. Government officials across the ideological spectrum weaponize this power to punish those who speak out against them. The stories of junk investigations are legion. Los Angeles just…

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

West Virginia Judicial Field Trip

The Institute for Justice (IJ) teamed up with a West Virginia man whose rights were violated by a Raleigh County family court judge. IJ and Matthew Gibson are urging the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of…

4th Amendment Project | Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Louisiana Traffic Stop

Mario Rosales and his girlfriend were pulled over for failing to signal, but a police camera clearly showed him signaling. Now Mario is suing over the Alexandria Police Department's "fishing trip" traffic stops.

First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability

Novak v. Parma

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

Bailey v. Iles

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.

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Mario Rosales Qualified Immunity

Mario Rosales was held at gunpoint by an off-duty sheriff's deputy even though he had done nothing wrong. Still, a court granted the officer qualified immunity and dismissed Mario's civil rights lawsuit.

4th Amendment Project | First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability | Political Speech | Private Property

East Cleveland Retaliation

Cities can’t use the police to punish political speech.

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Minnesota CSI

Can any government employee—such as a highway engineer who was never granted any police authority whatsoever—pull you over and detain you? Yes, at least if one federal appeals court gets its way.

4th Amendment Project | Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

USPS Mail Seizure

The U.S. Post Office cannot open someone's mail without getting a warrant.

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Wilson v. Midland County, Texas

Everybody knows your prosecutor can’t also be your judge. Everyone, that is, except for former Midland County, Texas, prosecutor Ralph Petty, his supervisor, and the county’s entire system of justice. Petty spent 20 years moonlighting…

4th Amendment Project | Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Pollreis Cert Petition

A police officer in Arkansas held two innocent children at gun point when he was supposed to be searching for an adult suspect. IJ is asking the Supreme Court to hear the family’s case and…

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Byrd v. Lamb

When police violate the rights of Americans, as they did to Kevin Byrd and Hamdi Mahmoud, they should be held accountable. IJ is asking the Supreme Court to take both of these cases and ensure…

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property | SWAT Destruction

Baker v. City of McKinney – Texas SWAT Destruction

Police destroyed Vicki Baker’s home while pursuing a fugitive, costing her tens of thousands of dollars and leaving her daughter’s dog with hearing loss. The city refused to pay for the damage it caused. IJ…

4th Amendment Project | Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Oliva v. Nivar

José Oliva was brutally beaten by federal officers in an unprovoked attack at a VA Hospital. This attack violated his Fourth Amendment rights, and IJ filed a petition to have the Supreme Court take on…

First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability

Gonzalez v. Trevino

After she won her election to city council, Sylvia Gonzalez immediately began getting harassed by city officials whom she had criticized in the past. It got so bad she was even arrested and thrown in…

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

King v. Brownback

Brownback v. King is IJ’s first Immunity and Accountability case that was argued before the United States Supreme Court. It involves James King, an innocent college student who was brutally beaten and choked unconscious by…

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

West v. Winfield

If you tell police they can go into your home, does that mean they can also legally stand outside and pepper it with shotgun-fired tear gas grenades—destroying everything inside? That is the question asked by…

Immunity and Accountability | Private Property

Lech v. Greenwood Village

Police destroyed the home of Leo and Alfonsina Lech while pursuing a fugitive and refused to pay for the damage that was caused. While the Supreme Court declined to hear the Lechs’ case, IJ is…