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

First Amendment | Sign Codes
High school art class painted donut mural for bakery, town demands their work be painted over
Conway, New Hampshire
Leavitt’s Country Bakery Owner Sean Young filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Conway, after town officials demanded he paint over a mural that was created by local high school students last summer.

Educational Choice | Publicly Funded Scholarships
Alaska School Choice
As a sparsely populated state, Alaska faces unique challenges in ensuring that all children can receive an education. To address this concern, the state created “correspondence programs,” in which a student’s public school used the…

First Amendment | Occupational Speech
Right to Provide Legal Advice
Cases Rev. John S. Udo-Okon at Word of Life International Church in the Bronx When wealthy Americans face legal troubles, they have a lot of sources of advice. Legions of lawyers, business consultants, accountants…

Other Property Rights Abuses | Private Property
Seattle Housing Affordability
Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability law is making it unaffordable to build housing.

Private Property | Rental Inspections
Tenants Win Battle to Stop Government Abuse: Yuma Rewrites Rental Inspection Ordinance; Lawsuit Challenging Yuma Warrantless Searches Dismissed
Educational Choice
The Next Step for School Choice: Removing State Constitutional Obstacles

Eminent Domain | Private Property
Putting the Brakes on Eminent Domain Abuse in Mesa, Arizona

Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing
Requiem for a Cartel: Challenging Oklahoma’s Casket Monopoly

Eminent Domain | Private Property
Mississippi Eminent Domain

Civil Forfeiture | Private Property
Policing and Prosecuting For Profit: New Jersey Ex-Sheriff Fights Civil Forfeiture Abuse

Eminent Domain | Private Property
Eminent Domain Without Limits?: U.S. Supreme Court Asked to Curb Nationwide Abuses
Film: Little Pink House State Reactions to Kelo Homeowners Lose Eminent Domain Case U.S. Supreme…

Eminent Domain | Private Property
Hopelessly Rigged: New Yorkers Try to Save Their Property

Eminent Domain | Private Property
Pittsburgh Fifth & Forbes Condemnation
Educational Choice | Tax Credit Scholarships
U.S. Supreme Court Dismisses Legal Challenge to Arizona School Choice Program
U.S. Supreme Court Opinion U.S. Supreme Court Dismisses Legal Challenge to Arizona Scho IJ’s Educational Choice Cases…

Economic Liberty | Food Freedom | Wine
Uncorking Freedom: Challenging Protectionist Restraints on Direct Interstate Wine Shipments to Consumers
U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Victory for Vintners In Wine Wars! IJ’s Food Freedom Initiative…