Keith Neely is an attorney with the Institute for Justice. He joined IJ in 2019 and works on cases involving each of IJ’s Four Pillars, with a special interest in cases involving educational choice and governmental immunities. He also co-hosts IJ’s Beyond the Brief, a podcast that interviews IJ clients and attorneys about the stories behind their cases.
Before joining IJ, Keith worked as an associate in the Tax Controversy practice of the D.C. office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. While employed at Skadden, he also spent six months seconded to the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, where he specialized in eviction defense. Prior to joining Skadden, Keith clerked for Judge Danny Boggs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Keith received his law degree in 2016 from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he also served as an editorial board member of the Virginia Law Review. He has an undergraduate degree in History from Vanderbilt University.
Keith's Cases
Civil Forfeiture | Private Property
The FBI Hasn’t Said What This Couple Did Wrong, But Is Taking Their Savings Anyway
Linda Martin's home savings were seized by the FBI. She received a confusing forfeiture notice that didn't clearly say what she did wrong for the government to want to take her money.
Ohio Parents Fight to Defend the State’s School Choice Programs
Two of Ohio’s most popular educational choice programs are under attack. This IJ suit seeks to defend these programs, which tens of thousands of Ohio students depend on.
4th Amendment Project | Immunity and Accountability | Private Property
A police officer arrested two innocent children at gunpoint. Now they are asking the Supreme Court to hold the officer accountable.
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…
Code Enforcement | Fines and Fees | Private Property
Memphis Residents File Lawsuit Against Shelby County Environmental Court for Affording No Real Due Process
When a court proceeding may result in a person losing their home, the U.S. Constitution demands a fair process with rigorous safeguards against erroneous deprivation. But the process is Shelby County, Tennessee, is anything but…
Montana Bans Doctors from Offering Medications to Their Patients Just to Protect Pharmacies from Competition
The vast majority of states allow patients to purchase medications directly from their prescribing doctor. For years, this practice was banned in Montana, until IJ stepped in to challenge the law and lawmakers immediately moved…
Economic Liberty | Food Freedom
Lincoln Home Baker Challenges City’s Unnecessary Regulations
Lincoln, Nebraska imposed restrictions on home bakers that the state itself decided to get rid of. One home baker named Cindy Baker teamed up with IJ to successfully challenge Lincoln’s foolish restriction.
Immunity and Accountability | Private Property
Taking on The Shell Games That Allow Federal/State Task Force Members To Violate Your Rights
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…
Educational Choice | Publicly Funded Scholarships
Tennessee Parents Intervene in Court to Defend Education Savings Account Program
In 2019, Tennessee enacted an Education Savings Account that helped thousands of low-and-middle-income students receive a quality education. A year later, the mayor of Nashville announced a lawsuit attacking the program. A group of Tennessee…
Charlottesville Treats Members of Its Creative Community Like ATMs
The city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County have decided to require a license for freelance writers and have made writers pay thousands in back taxes. This irrational law favors some speakers, like the traditional press,…
Economic Liberty | Hair Braiding | Occupational Licensing
Louisiana Hair Braiders Fight For Right To Earn An Honest Living
Hair-braiders in Louisiana are required to complete 500 hours of unnecessary and irrelevant training, pass an exam and pay annual licensing fees just to do their job. Many hair braiders have moved to neighboring states,…
Keith's Amicus Briefs
Ashaheed v. Currington
10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Tanzin v. Tanvir
U.S. Supreme Court
Keith's Podcasts
December 16, 2024
Creepy AI-powered Surveillance Cams in 5,000 Cities and Counting
Not long ago, if police wanted to know where someone drove, they would have to follow that person for days, taking significant resources. But new […]
Listen NowNovember 26, 2024
"Fish Cops" Flounder the 4th Amendment
In Pennsylvania, officers of the Fish and Boat Commission have the power to trespass on any land or water without a warrant. For one couple, […]
Listen NowSeptember 13, 2024
Carrying Cash is NOT a Crime
It’s legal to travel domestically with any amount of cash. It’s legal to travel in and out of the U.S. with more than $10k if […]
Listen NowApril 04, 2024
Deep Dive is now Beyond the Brief
Deep Dive is now becoming Beyond the Brief. We will still bring you the same great IJ-related content as before, but now in a studio […]
Listen NowMarch 16, 2022
State Remedies | Season 2, Ep. 11
With the doors to federal court closing on civil rights claims, this final episode of Season 2 heads to new terrain: state court. Click here for […]
Listen NowMarch 29, 2021
“Predictive Policing” Algorithm Creates a Dystopian Nightmare for Residents of This Florida Town
How One Sheriff’s Office Harasses and Arrests Citizens It Suspects of Future Crimes
When the Institute for Justice filed suit against the so-called predictive policing program in Pasco County, Florida, the Sheriff’s Office issued a statement saying that […]
Listen NowJuly 13, 2020
Court Strips Elderly Woman of Her Home and Ruins Her Life
A tree falls on an elderly woman’s home—and a court run without due process or oversight takes everything from her
After a tree fell on her house, IJ client Sarah Hohenberg’s journey through Memphis’ Environmental Court left her bankrupt, homeless, stripped of her possessions, and […]
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