Featured Cases
Immunity and Accountability | Private Property
US Citizen and Army Veteran Submits Claims for Unconstitutional Immigration Detention
George Retes, a U.S. citizen and Iraq War veteran, was detained for three days after encountering an ICE roadblock on his way to work.
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IJ Protects COnstitutional Rights
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.
See IJ’s Supreme Court Cases
All Cases
First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability
Smalltown Newspaper Punished for its Reporting Fights for the First Amendment
Four residents of a small Alabama county were targeted for retaliation by a district attorney and sheriff. Now, they are suing with IJ to protect their constitutional rights.
Economic Liberty | Fresh Start
Denied the Right to Work, Texas Women Sue State to End Unconstitutional Ban for Social Work
Two woman who overcame addiction and earned master's degrees in social work challenge a Texas law that permanently bars them from helping others because of old convictions.
4th Amendment Project | License Plate Readers | Private Property
Federal lawsuit challenges city's prolonged, warrantless surveillance of entire driving public
Norfolk, Virginia has installed more than 170 cameras across the city that watch drivers' every movement. Now, two Norfolk-area residents have teamed up with the Institute for Justice to file a federal lawsuit challenging the program.
Private Property | Private Solutions to Public Problems | Right to Shelter | Zoning Justice Project
With Winter Coming, the Institute for Justice Sues Kalispell, Montana, to Keep Warming Shelter Open
The Flathead Warming Center—an emergency shelter in Kalispell, Montana—suffered a cruel blow as winter approaches. On September 16, 2024, the Kalispell City Council voted 6-3 to revoke the Warming Center’s permit,…
Immunity and Accountability | Private Property | SWAT Destruction
The FBI Raided the Wrong Home—the Government Refuses to Pay for the Damage
FBI agents raided the wrong home in suburban Atlanta. Now the federal government refuses to compensate the victims even though Congress passed a law permitting suits for damages caused by federal employees.
First Amendment
Attorney files federal lawsuit challenging court's gag order rule
Nashville civil rights attorney Daniel Horwitz was silenced by a gag order, after discussing his cases with the media. Now, he's teamed up with the Institute for Justice to file a federal First Amendment lawsuit against the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, challenging the rule that was used to impose the gag order.
4th Amendment Project | Open Fields Doctrine | Private Property
Pennsylvania man files federal lawsuit challenging law allowing Fish and Boat Commission to enter property without warrant
A Pennsylvania man is challenging a state law that gives "fish cops" broad power to enter private property without a warrant after an officer repeatedly trespassed at his lakeside cabin.
Immunity and Accountability | Private Property
Woman Seeks to Hold Police Accountable for Mistaken Identity Arrest
An innocent Texas woman was arrested in a case of mistaken identity while getting off a cruise in 2022. Now, she's suing Broward County for the unconstitutional arrest.
Other Property Rights Abuses | Private Property
Property Owner Sues Macon-Bibb County Over Unconstitutional Home Demolition Practice
Macon-Bibb County has demolished hundreds of homes in a secret process. One homeowner, whose house was demolished while he was actively renovating it, is fighting back.
Housing Abundance and Affordability | Private Property | Private Solutions to Public Problems | Zoning Justice Project
Santa Clara Winery Sues to End Unconstitutional Zoning Code Fines
Owners of a historic vineyard and winery provided safe, affordable housing for their long-time employee and his family. For that, they have been fined more than $120,000.
Economic Liberty | Private Property | Zoning Justice Project
Hair Braider Sues After City Blocks Her Business for Providing Too Much Competition with Existing Shops
In America, the government doesn’t get to pick winners and losers in the marketplace. Businesses compete, and the consumer ultimately decides which services or products they want. The idea that anyone…
Economic Liberty | Food Freedom
Institute for Justice Files Lawsuit Challenging Florida’s Ban on Cultivated Meat
Florida banned cultivated meat to protect its cattle industry from competition, but the Constitution prohibits states from closing their borders to innovative out-of-state products.
Civil Forfeiture | Private Property
Family Jewelry Business Fights Back to End Predatory Civil Forfeitures at Indianapolis FedEx Hub
Henry and Minh Cheng, who run a wholesale jewelry business, are fighting Indiana to keep money a customer sent them through FedEx. Indiana police seized the money and prosecutors are trying to take it through civil forfeiture without saying what the couple did wrong.
Immunity and Accountability | Private Property
New petition asks Supreme Court to let woman’s suit against her abuser’s enabler move forward after nearly a decade in court.
Desiree Martinez bravely reported to the police the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her boyfriend, Kyle Pennington. But Pennington was a police officer, and came from a family…
Immunity and Accountability | Other Property Rights Abuses | Private Property
Courts Say City Owes Her Over $200,000; But Now She Has to Sue Again to Get Paid
Courts say Okay, Oklahoma owes Melisa Robinson for damaging her property. But the city won't pay. That violates her Fifth Amendment right to just compensation.
Educational Choice | Publicly Funded Scholarships
Arkansas Mothers Intervene to Defend Education Freedom Accounts Program Against Lawsuit
Arkansas parents defend a state program that provides eligible families with thousands of dollars to cover certain educational expenses.
Educational Choice | Publicly Funded Scholarships
Utah Families Defend Program That Expands Educational Opportunity
Utah families intervene to defend the Utah Fits All scholarship program, so that families have more choice with their children's' educational opportunities.
First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability | Private Property
Murphy v. Schmitt
Have you ever heard of someone being arrested and sent to jail for walking on the wrong side of the road? Probably not — because police officers never, or almost never,…
First Amendment | First Amendment Retaliation | Immunity and Accountability
Lawsuit Seeks Accountability for Unconstitutional Raid of a Political Opponent’s Home
Kansas police raided the home of a city councilwoman and seized her phone and computer in retaliation for her criticism of local officials.
Educational Choice
Parents Sue Massachusetts Over Unconstitutional Conditions for Special Education Services
Massachusetts families are fighting for the right to receive special education services at the schools their children attend.