Supreme Court Won’t Hear St. Louis Sign Case. Sign In Question is Safe, but Law Remains Mixed Nationwide

IJ client Jim Roos' Mural. Photo via Institute for Justice

Arlington, Va.— In an action that results in a free speech victory for a St. Louis, Mo., housing activist and citizens of seven Midwestern states—but that leaves lingering uncertainty for the free speech rights of citizens in other parts of the country—the U.S. Supreme Court today denied review of an 8^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that struck down substantial portions of the St. Louis sign code.

According to Michael Bindas, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice (IJ), which represents Jim Roos, whose conflict with St. Louis over eminent domain sparked the

State Assembly may Make Anti-competitive System Even Worse for Entrepreneurs

IJ Client Ghaleb Ibrahim. Photo via IJ

Minneapolis, MN — On Tuesday, February 21, the Wisconsin State Assembly will vote on Bill 529, legislation designed to turn Milwaukee’s anti-competitive taxi market into something even worse:  a New York City-style medallion system.  If passed, the Milwaukee Common Council would be able to enact a system where taxicab licenses would be allocated by auction to the highest bidder.

“The Milwaukee taxi market is desperately in need of reform, but all this bill does is make a terrible system even worse,” said Institute for Justice (IJ) Attorney Anthony

Obamacare: IJ Calls on SCOTUS to Check Congressional Overreach

Institute for Justice Amicus Brief in Healthcare Case Calls on U.S. Supreme Court to Check Congressional Overreach

Brief Argues That the Individual Mandate Violates Longstanding Contract Principles. If the Government Can Force You into a Healthcare Contract It Can Force You into Lifelong Employment Contracts and Union Memberships

Arlington, Va.—If government-mandated health insurance is upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) case is argued in March 2012, the Institute for Justice warns in its amicus brief that there will be dire and predictable threats to

Hialeah’s Valentine’s Day Crackdown on Street Vendors Shows No Love for Entrepreneurs

Government Officials Crush Dreams of Flower Vendors with Heartless Crackdown Designed to Protect Favored Businesses from Competition

IJ client Silvio Membreno is a Hialeah vendor. Photo: IJ

Miami, FL — All street vendors from Hialeah want is to earn an honest living, sell flowers and other goods, and provide for their families.  But street vendors across the city are reporting that government officials are now engaged in what has become an annual tradition designed to stifle the entrepreneurs’ dreams:  Law enforcement officers are cracking down on street vendors so they can’t capitalize on the holiday, ordering licensed vendors off

Minnesota Legislators To Introduce Pro-Jobs Occupation Licensing Bills

Person has a right to engage in a “lawful occupation free from any substantial burden” of state regulation unless compelling interest, authors Gerlach & Downey say

ST. PAUL, MN – Senator Chris Gerlach (R – Apple Valley) and Representative Keith Downey (R – Edina) today announced the introduction of a bill that would help create jobs by allowing people to pursue a lawful occupation free from unnecessary regulations, as well as protect against the

Trial Court Denies Effort to Protect Turner Field Vendors

Court’s Decision Leaves Vendors’ Businesses in Jeopardy

 

IJ client Larry Miller is a well-known vendor outside Turner Field. Credit: IJ

Arlington, Va.— Last Friday afternoon, a Fulton County, Georgia Superior Court judge decided not to grant an injunction that would have protected the businesses of Larry Miller and Stanley Hambrick, two long-time businessmen who have each vended outside Turner Field for more than a decade.

With the assistance of the Institute for Justice (IJ), Miller and Hambrick are challenging the city of Atlanta’s decision to hand over all public-property vending to General Growth Properties—the first program of its kind in the country.  Because this monopoly threatens the very survival of Miller and Hambrick’s businesses, they asked that the court keep the city from revoking their vending permits or physically removing them from their vending

Court Upholds Arizona’s Ground-Breaking Education Savings Accounts for Children with Special Needs

Original Arizona capitol building. Image credit: WARS

Arlington, Va.— A Maricopa County (AZ) Superior Court Judge upheld Arizona’s Empowerment Account Program as constitutional under the Arizona State Constitution.

The program, which is first of its kind in the nation, allows qualified parents of children with special needs to apply for an Arizona Empowerment Account and use the funds deposited by the state into those accounts

Federal Trial Court Ignores First Amendment, Upholds Washington Regulation of Citizen-to-Citizen Speech

Seattle, WA— the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington upheld a Washington law that empowers the state government to monitor, collect and publicly disseminate information about the political activities of private citizens who do nothing more than urge their fellow citizens to take political action.  

“The First Amendment does not allow grassroots issue advocacy laws that arbitrarily interfere with the right to engage in political activity—but that’s exactly what this decision permits,” said Jeanette

Institute for Justice Renews Legal Fight to Open Denver Taxi Market

Arlington, Va.—They’re baaaaack.  More than 18 years after filing a lawsuit that opened Denver’s decades-long closed taxi market, which led to the launch of Freedom Cabs, the Institute for Justice  (IJ) announced recently it is returning to Denver to litigate once again on behalf of a would-be taxi driver who seeks nothing more than the right to earn an honest living.  IJ is a public interest law firm that represents

Mississippi Citizens Join Together, File First Amendment Lawsuit Challenging Statewide Speech Regulations

New Study Shows Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws Fail to Inform Voters and Stifle Public Debate

Arlington, Va.— Should Mississippi citizens need to get the government’s permission before speaking about political issues with their neighbors and friends?

That is the question to be answered by a First Amendment lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi