IJ Friends in Florida,

We have now been litigating for liberty for ten years in the Sunshine State! We are proud to say that, during that time, we have achieved victories in all four of IJ’s pillars—economic liberty, free speech, property rights, and school choice.  

Our court victories have spanned the state. We won a first-of-its-kind commercial speech victory in federal appellate court on behalf of a Panhandle creamery that simply wanted to tell the truth. We successfully defended school choice scholarship students and parents at the Florida Supreme Court. We obtained a historic rational basis preliminary injunction on behalf of food trucks in Fort Pierce. And we brought a case defending the right to have a vegetable garden in Miami Shores that directly led to statewide reform.

Speaking of Tallahassee, we also helped Florida to enact the largest repeal of occupational licensing barriers in U.S. history, along with dramatic improvements for cottage-food sellers and home-based business owners. We helped overhaul Florida’s civil forfeiture laws. Finally, as always, we have supported the continued expansion of Florida’s role as a national leader for school choice.

Throughout that time, we have been grateful to work with so many of you. Whether it has been teaming up for a Florida Supreme Court argument or forming a powerful coalition for legislative change, we truly appreciate your friendship. We are just getting warmed up, and we hope that you are too. As I type this, we are simultaneously challenging three different abusive fines and fees regimes in Lantana, Dunedin, and Pasco County. We also have our Tarpon Springs food truck case and are starting another, undoubtedly action-packed, legislative session. Together, there is still much for us to do.

For those in the Miami area, we would love to celebrate with you in person at Briza on the Bay on Thursday, February 24. Join us at 6:30 p.m. for a reception with refreshments, along with remarks at 7:30 p.m. RSVP below.

Regards,

Justin Pearson

Managing Attorney, IJ-Florida