The Institute for Justice litigates to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans. IJ defends ordinary people who want to earn an honest living, own and enjoy their property, speak freely, and give their children a good education but find that the government is standing in their way.
We fight to hold government officials accountable when they violate constitutional rights and to prevent governments at all levels from bending the rules to expand their power or advance illegitimate ends.
IJ wins three out of four cases through outright courtroom victories or legislative change prompted by our lawsuits.
Featured Cases

Immunity and Accountability
Lawsuit Appeal Asks Court If Deputy Should Get Immunity Even Though His Actions Landed Him in Prison
Roswell, NM
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.

First Amendment | Immunity and Accountability | Political Speech
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.

Immunity and Accountability
U.S. Supreme Court Appeal: Government Official with No Police Authority Pulled Over and Detained Drivers, Yet Granted Qualified Immunity
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
Oakland Activist Sues to Hold Postal Officers Accountable for Illegal Search and Seizure of his Mail
The U.S. Post Office cannot open someone’s mail without getting a warrant.
Educational Choice | Tax Credit Scholarships
Illinois Tuition Tax Credit

Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing
The Right to Urn an Honest Living: Challenging Tennessee's Casket Monopoly
First Amendment | Political Speech
Challenging Coerced Subsidies for the Political Class: A First Amendment Lawsuit

Eminent Domain | Private Property
Pittsburgh City Council Tried to Abuse Government’s Eminent Domain Power

Educational Choice | Publicly Funded Scholarships
U.S. Supreme Court issued its most important educational decision since Brown v. Board of Education
U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Victory for School Choice Cleveland, Ohio, School Choice (State Case)…
Educational Choice | Publicly Funded Scholarships
Florida School Choice: Opportunity Scholarship Programs

Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing | Transportation
The Fight For A Free Market: Opening The Las Vegas Limousine Monopoly

First Amendment
North Dakota Micro-Radio
Cosmetology | Economic Liberty | Hair Braiding | Occupational Licensing
Challenging Barriers To Economic Opportunity: Hosey v. Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
Educational Choice
The Case for School Choice: Raymond, Maine

Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing