Liberty & Law: IJ's Bimonthly Newsletter (February 2011)

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The Secret to IJ's SuccessThe Secret to IJ's Success

is celebratinginstit

uteforjustice

2020litig

atingforlibertyyearsyears

is celebratingis celebratingInstit

uteforJusticeInstituteforjustice

Volume 20 Issue 1

Clean Elections

Challenge Goes to

U.S. Supreme Court

2

Strategic Research

Pays Dividends

3

IJ Launches

Center for

Judicial Engagement

4

A Sign of

Freedom

6

Published Bimonthly by theInstitute for Justice

visit us online:

www.ij.org

Inside This Issue

By Chip Mellor

In1991,welaunchedtheInstituteforJustice,

determinedtorestoreconstitutionalprotectionforour

mostbasicfreedomsandtoadvancearuleoflaw

conducivetoasocietyoffreeandresponsibleindi-

viduals.Twentyyearslater,wecelebrateouranni-

versaryhavingachievedmorethanwedareddream,

butrecognizingthatwehavejustbeguntotapour

potential.Overthecourseofthisanniversaryyear,

wewillfeaturearticleslookingatIJshistoryand

showcasingourfutureplans.Thisseriesbeginsby

answeringafrequentlyposedquestion:Whatisthe

secrettoIJssuccess?

Theeasyansweris,ofcourse,thepeopleofIJ.

Ourstaff,board,donorsandclientsareallextraordi-

narilytalentedanddedicatedtotheprinciplesofliberty.

Butthereismoretoitthanthat.

Manyorganizationshavetalentedpeople.The

differenceisthecultureofIJthatpermeatesallof

ourworkandinteractionwithothers.WecallitThe

IJWay.TheIJWayinvolvesfiveattributesthateach

IJerbringstoeverytask.First,weareentrepreneur-

ialincreatingandseizingopportunities,pursuingour

goalswithfocusedtenacity.Wemakethingshappen

ratherthansimplywaitingtoreacttotheagendaof

theotherside.Second,weachieveresultsinthe

realworld.Whileideasandphilosophyundergird

ourwork,wetranslatethatintoactionthatchanges

thelivesofourclientsandinthelongrun,thejuris-

prudenceofAmerica.Third,wearepositiveand

open,approachingeverytaskwithapositiveattitude

20th Anniversarycontinued on page 8

1991-2011

February 2011

2020litig

atingforlibertyyearsyears


2/122

By William R. Maurer

TheInstituteforJusticeisheadingback

totheU.S.SupremeCourtforoneofthe

mostimportantfreespeechcasesinyears.

AtissueinthecaseArizonaFreedomClub

PACv.Bennettiswhetherthegovernment

mayinsertitselfintopoliticalcampaignsand

placeitsthumbfirmlyonthescalesinfavor

ofgovernment-fundedcandidates.

ThecasealsogivesIJthe

opportunitytoteamupwiththeGoldwaterInstitute,oneofour

closealliesamongstate-based

thinktanks.Goldwateralsorepre-

sentsanumberofcandidatesin

thecaseofMcComishv.Bennett.

Thetwocaseswereconsolidated

bytheU.S.SupremeCourt.

Formorethanadecade,

Arizonahasusedtaxpayermoneytofinance

thecampaignsofpoliticiansrunningforoffice.

ButArizonadoesnotstopthere.Besides

fundingcandidates,ittriestoleveltheplay-ingfieldfortaxpayer-financedcandidatesby

penalizingtraditionallyfundedcandidates

thosewhofinancetheircampaignsthrough

privatecontributions.Arizonaslaweven

penalizestheindependentsupportersoftra-

ditionallyfundedcandidates.Itdoesallthis

byprovidingwhatArizonacallsmatching

funds.Thesearesubsidiesthegovernment

paystogovernment-fundedcandidateswhen

theiropponentsspendmoremoneythanthe

governmentwants.Thatis,thegovernment

setsanarbitrarylevel,andifanindependent

grouporprivatelyfinancedcandidate

spendsmorethanthat,tocounter

theirmessagethegovernmentpaysadditional

moneydirectlytothepubliclyfinancedcandi-

datesintherace.

Thisimpedestheabilityofindependent

groupsandprivatelyfinancedcandidatesto

spendmoneypromotingtheirpoliticalviews

abovethegovernment-setlimit,becauseif

theyspeakabovethatlimit,thegovernment

directlysubsidizestheirpoliticalopponents.

Inthiszero-sumgameofelectoralpolitics,the

endresultisadefactolimitonhowmuch

speechoccursincampaigns.Forexample,

underArizonasscheme,ifatraditionallyfundedcandidateraisesandspends$10,000

topromotehiscampaign,thegovernment

givesapproximately$10,000toeachofhis

government-fundedopponents.So,ifthecan-

didatehasthreegovernment-fundedrivalsin

aprimary,thatmeanshis$10,000turnsinto

nearlya$30,000gainforhisopponents.

TheCleanElectionsActcreatesan

abbreviatedMirandaRightfortraditionally

fundedcandidates:Theyhavetherightto

remainsilent,anyspeechtheymayundertake

canandwillbecounteredbygovernment

funding.

Inthepastfewyears,theU.S.Supreme

Courtandthelowercourtshavebegunstrik-

ingdownlawsthatinterferewithspeechdur-

ingcampaigns.ThecaseIJisbringingbefore

theCourtaskswhetherthegovernmentmay

getaroundthesedecisionsbycreatingdisin-

centivesandburdenstoachieve

indirectlywhatthegovernmentisprohibitedfromdoingdirectly.

Inthiscase,IJrepresents

twogroupsthatmakeindependent

expendituresinArizonacam-

paignstheArizonaFreedomClub

PACandtheArizonaTaxpayers

ActionCommittee,alongwith

stateSenatorRickMurphyand

formerArizonaTreasurerDeanMartin.The

casedemonstratesthepersistenceofIJand

itsclients.MartinandIJstartedchallenging

thislawin2004and,astheyearsoflitiga-tionwenton,includingtwotripstotheNinth

U.S.CircuitCourtofAppeals,theotherclients

joinedwithhimtonowpresenttheircaseto

thehighestcourtintheland.

Onceagain,IJisattheforefrontofset-

tingtheagendaforconstitutionallitigationin

America.Theargumentwilltakeplaceon

March28,andtheCourtisexpectedtoissue

adecisionbeforetheendof

June.u

William R. Maurer is the IJ

Washington Chapterexecutive director.

IJs Challenge to Arizonas Clean Elections

Goes to the U.S. Supreme Court

2

The Clean Elections Act creates anabbreviated Miranda Right for traditionally

funded candidates: They have the right to

remain silent, any speech they may

undertake can and will be countered

by government funding.


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By Lisa Knepper

TheInstituteforJusticesstrategic

researchprogramissomethingtrulynewin

theworldofpublicinterestlaw.Noother

organizationhasthecapabilitytoproduceacademic-caliberresearchandthenemploy

thatresearchincutting-edgelitigationto

advancefreedom.

InIJsconstitutionalchallengetoTexas

civilforfeiturescheme,forexample,our

researchunderscoreda

keylegalclaimandput

thestateonthedefen-

sive.InForfeitingJustice,

releasedinNovember,

DirectorofStrategic

ResearchDickCarpenteruseddataprovidedby

Texaslawenforcement

agenciesthemselvesto

showthat,onaverage,for-

feiturefundsrepresented

14percentofagencybud-

getsin2007.Forthe10

agenciesthattookinthe

mostforfeituremoney,pro-

ceedsequaledawhopping

37percentofbudgets.

IJarguesthatTexas

schemeprovidespoliceand

prosecutorsimproperincentivestopursuefor-

feituresthatgeneratefundsfortheagencies,

distractingthemfromotherlawenforcement

goalsandputtingthepropertyofinnocent

citizensatrisk.Thedatashowthatthese

incentivesarerealandsizable.Perhapsthat

iswhythestatefoughttopreventIJfrom

accessingmorerecentanddetaileddata,but

alsochallengedincourtthepresentationof

thedatawedohave. Strategicresearchlikewisedemonstrated

thereal-worldharmsofArizonasso-called

CleanElectionssystem,nowbeforetheU.S.

SupremeCourt.Inexperttestimony,David

Primo,apoliticalscientistattheUniversity

ofRochester,showedthat

privatelysupportedcandi-

datesdelayspendingon

orraisingmoneyfortheir

speechtoavoidtriggering

matchingfundstopub-

liclyfundedopponents. Inotherwords,these

candidatesholdtheirfire

sotheirspeechisnot

matchedwithadditional

subsidiestotheiroppo-

nents.TheGovernment

AccountabilityOfficecited

Dr.Primosfindingsina

recentreportontaxpayer

fundingplanslikeArizonas

andfoundevidencethat

independentgroups

behavesimilarly.This

proofofharmtotheunfetteredexerciseof

FirstAmendmentrightswasakeypartofIJs

successfulpetitionaskingtheCourttotake

thecase,aswellasourmeritsbriefarguing

matchingfundsshouldbestruckdown.

Strategicresearchalsoplayedarole

inIJsdefenseofArizonasschoolchoice

programbeforetheHighCourt.Opponents,

drawingonanecdotalreportsfromlocal

newspapers,attemptedtopainttheindividualtaxcreditprogramasriggedtofavorwealthy

families.WeaskededucationanalystVicki

Murraytoevaluatethatclaim,andshefound

thatscholarshiprecipientsmedianincome

isactually$5,000lessthanthestatewide

median.Thatprovidedpowerfulevidenceto

theCourtthatArizonasprogramdoesinfact

openthedoorsofeducationalopportunityto

low-andmiddle-incomefamilies.

Intheseandothercases,strategic

researchisgivingIJlitigatorsanadditional

tooltomakethecaseforfreedomincourt.Andincreasingly,ourworkisalsohavingan

impactonscholarlyandpolicydebates.We

havehad10articlespublishedinoraccept-

edforpublicationbypeer-reviewedjournals,

andatleast36otherarticleshavecitedour

workinscholarly,lawreviewandpolicypubli-

cationstestamentstoboththequalityofthe

researchanditsrelevancetovitalissuesof

theday.

Startingthisfirst-of-its-kindprogram

requiredthekindofentrepreneurialspiritand

long-termvisionthatarethehallmarksofIJs

success.Alittlelessthanfiveyearsintothis

venture,itisclearerthanever

thatitispayingdividends.u

Lisa Knepper is an IJ director of

strategic research.

Strategic Research Paying Dividends

Strategic research is giving IJ litigators an additional tool to make the case

for freedom in court.

IJs combined approach of cutting-

edge litigation, effective media rela-

tions and strategic researchinclud-

ing our Forfeiting Justice report

(available at www.ij.org/3577)is

keeping the state on the defensive.

February 2

2020litig

atingforlyearsyears


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Neverinmoderntimeshastheneedforenforcingconstitu-tionallimitsongovernmentbeenmoreurgent.Governmentat

alllevelshasexpandedtothreatenourmostbasiclibertiesand

ourverywayoflife.Thisexplosionofpoliticalpowerviolatesour

Constitution,whichwascarefullycraftedtoprotectusfromthe

rampantandintrusivegovernmentwenowhave.

ButtheConstitutionismeaninglessiftheprovisionsenshrined

initbytheFramersarenotenforced.Thatisthedutyofourcourts.Theymustbethebulwarksoflibertyenvisionedby

JamesMadison,andjudgesareobligedtopreventthegovernment

fromexercisingpowersnotauthorizedbytheConstitution.But

ratherthanthebulwarkstheyweredesignedtobe,courtshave

insteadincreasinglyshownmisguideddeferencetootherbranches

ofgovernment.

Thismustchange.Aprincipledcommitmenttojudicial

engagementistheessentialfirststeptowardestablishingaruleof

lawthatisfaithfultotheConstitutionanditsdesigntosecurethe

blessingsoflibertyforallAmericansbylimitingthesizeandscope

ofgovernment.

TheInstituteforJusticehascreatedtheCenterforJudicial

Engagementtoeducatethepublicandpersuadejudgestofully

enforcethelimitsourConstitutionplacesonthegovernmentsexer-

ciseofpoweroverourlives.

I. The Constitution and the Judiciary

Individualshaverightsthatareinherentandunalienable.

Governmentsareinstitutedamongmentosecurethoserights,a

smallportionofwhichwedelegatetogovernmentinexchangefor

protectionofthefarmoreexpansivefreedomsthatweretain.The

Constitutionrecognizesandprotectstheseretainedfreedoms,and

itestablishesafederalgovernmentofstrictlylimitedandenumer-

atedpowers.Italsoimposeslimitsonstategovernments,whose

powers,thoughbroaderthanthoseofthefederalgovernment,are

likewisefinite.

TherightsguaranteedbytheConstitutionaremanyand

broad.Someareidentifiedspecifically,othersarenot.The

NinthAmendmentprovidesthattheenumerationofcertainrightsshallnotbeconstruedtodenyordisparageotherrights,andthe

FourteenthAmendmentforbidsstatesfromabridgingthebroad

setofprivilegesorimmunities(meaningrights)heldbycitizensof

theUnitedStates.Dueprocessprovisionslimitboththemeans

andtheendsofgovernment,whiletheprincipleofequalprotec-

tionrequiresthatgovernmentpowerbeexercisedfairlyandwithout

improperdiscrimination.

Theconstitutionalityofparticulargovernmentconductis

ultimatelydeterminedthroughjudicialreview,whichhasbeenan

essentialfeatureofAmericangovernmentformorethan200years.

Judicialreviewisvitaltooursystemofgovernmentbecausewhen

courtsfailtoenforceconstitutionallimitsongovernmentpower,we

areleftonlywiththeself-restraintofpublicofficials,whichexperi-

enceshowsisnorestraintatall.

II. Government Out of Control

Governmentactivityatalllevelstodayfarexceedswhatthe

Constitutionauthorizes.Thefederalgovernment,forexample,long

agoabandonedanypretenseofconfiningitselftopowersactually

grantedbytheConstitutionandregulateseverythingfromchildrens

educationtothecropsfarmersgrowfortheirownconsump-

Declaration of the Institute for JusticesCenter for Judicial Engagement

IJ Launches Center for Judicial EngagementIn January, IJ launched its Center for Judicial Engagement tosecure constitutional limits on government power by reinvigorat-ing the courts role as bulwarks of liberty. IJ will challenge the

notion, far too prevalent today on the right and the left, thatcourts should routinely defer to legislative and executive authorityThe Center will be guided in its mission by the declaration below

4


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tion.BesidesexercisingpowersnotconferredbytheConstitution,

Congressroutinelydelegatesitslegislativepowerstotheexecutive

branch,instructingunaccountableagenciestopursueill-defined

goalswithoutintelligibleguidance.

Stategovernmentsalsoroutinelyexercisepowersdeniedbythe

Constitution,whichincludesspecificrestraints,suchastheContracts

ClauseandtheFourteenthAmendment,thatfederalcourtshave

failedtoproperlyenforce.Moreover,likethefederalgovernment,

statesoftenadoptregulationswhoseonlyplausiblepurposeisto

advancetheinterestsoffavoredgroupsattheexpenseofothers.

Thisisparticularlyevidentinthefieldofoccupationallicensing,

whereeconomicprotectionismiscommonplaceandgovernment

officialsfrequentlyimposeanti-competitiverestrictionsdesignedto

thwart,notfoster,thepursuitoftheAmericanDream.

Wearesmotheredunderablanketofregulationthatimpedes,envelops,andexhaustsus,withthegovernmentdemandingan

ever-increasingportionofthefruitsofourlabor.Indeed,govern-

menttodayspendssofarbeyonditsmeansthatithassaddled

ourchildrenandgrandchildrenwithcrushingdebtsthatexceed

byordersofmagnitudewhatanyprecedinggenerationhasfaced.

Thatisunjustandimmoral,butitisthenaturaltendencyofgovern-

mentunchecked.

III. Judicial Engagement

Judicialreviewplaysakeyroleinoursystemofgovernmentandthepreventionoftyranny.Yetthereisanincreasingtendencyto

presentthepublicwithafalsedichotomybetweenimproperjudicial

activismandsupposedlylaudablejudicialrestraint.Strikingdown

unconstitutionallawsandblockingillegitimategovernmentactions

isnotactivism;rather,itisjudicialengagementenforcinglimits

ongovernmentpowerconsistentwiththetextandpurposeofthe

Constitution.Allowingthegovernmenttoexerciseforbiddenpowers

andtrampleindividualrightsisnotrestraint,itisabdication.

Priorrulingsthatignore,dilute,orotherwiserendermeaning-

lessconstitutionallimitsongovernmentpowerprovidenobasisfor

courtscontinuedfailuretostopthegovernmentfromactinguncon-

stitutionally.Whereaconflictexistsbetweenprecedentandthe

Constitutionforexample,thepracticaleliminationofthepublicuse

provisionfromtheFifthAmendmentinKelov.CityofNewLondon

theConstitutionmustprevail.

Overtheyears,courtshaveeffectivelyamendedthe

Constitution,grantingtogovernmentpowersitdoesnotpossessand

allowingittorestrictfreedomarbitrarily.Thistrendmuststop,and

thedamageithascausedmustbeundonebylimitingoroverruling

casesthathavetransformedourConstitutionfromaguarantorof

libertytoavirtualblankcheckfortheexerciseofgovernmentpower.

Governmentactionsarenotentitledtodeferencesimply

becausetheyresultfromapoliticalprocessinvolvingelectedrep-

resentatives.Tothecontrary,theFramerswereacutelyawareof

anddeeplyconcernedaboutthedangersofinterest-grouppolitics

andoverweeninggovernment,andthestructureoftheConstitution

rejectsreflexivedeferencetotheotherbranches.Itisthecourts

jobtocheckforbiddenpoliticalimpulses,notratifythemunderthe

bannerofmajoritariandemocracy.

Constitutionalcasesareoftendifficultandfrequentlydefy

brightlinesorsimplerules.Butjudgesmustengagethefacts

ofeveryconstitutionalcase,justastheydoinnon-constitutionalcases.Judgesmustmeaningfullyevaluatethegovernmentsaction

andtherestrictionsitimposesonlibertysotheycandetermine,

basedontheevidencepresented,thetruebasisofthatactionand

whetheritpassesconstitutionalmuster.Ignoringevidence,invent-

ingfacts,andrubber-stampingthewantonexerciseofgovernment

powerrepresentjudicialabdication,notmodesty.

To our fellow citizens we say:

TheConstitutionpromisesagovernmentoflimitedpowers.

That promise has been broken.

TheConstitutionpromisesanarrayofindividualrightsbothwritten

andunwrittenthatthegovernmentmayneitherdenynordisparage.

That promise has been broken.

TheConstitutionpromisesaruleoflawunderwhichindividualscan

controltheirdestiniesasfreeandresponsiblemembersofsociety.

That promise too has been brokenover and over again.

Courtsfailuretoproperlyfulfilltheirrolehasdeprivedusof

thelibertythatisourbirthrightandhastransformedgovernment

intoaninsatiablebehemoththatthreatenstheveryfutureofthis

nation.

JudicialengagementmeanstakingtheConstitutionseriously

asacharteroflibertyandabulwarkoffreedomagainstillegitimate

governmentpower.Forourselvesandourposteritywemust,from

thisdayforward,acceptnothingless.u

Striking down unconstitutional laws and blocking illegitimate government actions

is not activism; rather, it is judicial engagementenforcing limits on government

power consistent with the text and purpose of the Constitution.


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Arlington Virginias Sign OrdinanIs For the Dogs

By Robert Frommer

Americasroadtoeconomicrecov-

erywontbegininWashington,D.C.It

willstartinthehomesandofficesof

entrepreneurswhoriskitalltobringan

ideatolife.Andtheirsuccessisour

success:Thegoodsandservicesthat

theseinnovatorsofferandthejobsthey

createbenefitusall.Youwouldthink

thatlocalgovernmentswouldtryto

makestartingoneofthesebusinesses

aseasyaspossible,butyouwouldbe

wrong.InArlingtonCounty,Va.,ithasgottensobadthatentrepreneursmust

choosebetweentheirrighttospeak

andtheirrighttoearnanhonestliving.

Formorethan20years,Kim

HoughtonsoldadvertisingatThe

WashingtonPost.ButKimwanted

more:Shesoughtanewdirectionthat

wouldletherworkonsomethingshe

feltpassionateabout.Afterlookingat

herlife,Kimrealizedthatsheloved

IJ client Kim Houghton, above, displays an image of the mural

Arlington County is trying to force her to paint over or turn into

a government sign. IJ Staff AttorneyRobert Frommer, left, dis-cusses Kims case at IJs launch press conference.

spendingtimewithherthree

dogs.AndsoKimdecidedtoopenWagMoreDogs,ahigh-end

caninedaycare,groomingand

boardingbusiness.

Kimrentedabuildingnextto

anareadogparkandbegantoget

WagMoreDogsupandrunning.

Inordertogivebacktothepark

shehadgonetoforyearsand

engendersomegoodwillforWag

MoreDogs,Kimcommissioneda

16-by-60footpieceofartonthe

sideofthebuildingsheleasesthatdepictshappycartoondogs,

bones,andpawprints.Forthree

monthsthepaintingsatwithout

issue,withdogparkpatronstelling

Kimhowmuchtheylikeditcom-

paredtotheuglycinderblock

wallsthatdominatedthepark.

Thenoneday,Arlington

officialsblockedKimsbuild-

ingpermitandtoldherthat

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WagMoreDogs

couldnotopenuntilshepaintedoverher

happycartoondogs.

Theprobleminthe

eyesofArlington

officialswasthat

Kimsartworkhad

arelationshipwithherbusiness.

Inotherwords,ifWagMoreDogs

paintinghaddepictedkittensor

ponies,thatwouldhavebeenfine.

Andifanautoshophadpainteda

muralofcartoondogs,thatwouldhavebeenfineaswell.Butbecause

WagMoreDogsisadogbusiness,

ArlingtonCountyforcedKimtoput

upanuglybluetarpthathascov-

eredherinnocuouspaintingforover

fourmonths.

TheFirstAmendmentdoesnot

letthegovernmentplayartcritic.

ButArlingtonslawgivesgovernment

bureaucratsabsolutediscretionto

treatentrepreneurswithabsolute

disdain.ThatiswhytheInstitutefor

Justicesteppedup.InDecember,

wefiledafederallawsuitcontend-

ingthatArlingtonssignordinance

isunconstitutionalbecauseitis

hopelesslyvagueandbecauseit

imposesspecialburdensonsome

paintingsbasedonwhopaintedthemandwhattheydepict.When

weprevail,wewillhavedonemore

thanjusthelpKimteardownatarp.

Wewillhaveadvancedthecause

ofeconomiclibertyandvindicated

asimplebutincrediblyimportant

legalprinciple:thatundertheFirst

Amendmenttherighttospeakis

justthatarightnotaprivilegefor

governmentofficialstodoleoutas

theyplease.u

Robert Frommer is an

IJ staf f attorney.

www.ij.org/DogMuralVideo

Watch the case video, IJ Fights to Unleash Free Speech.


8/128

focusedonsolutions,notproblems.Indeed,our

abilitytoseetheglassashalf-fullhasbeencen-

traltoourabilitytodevelopcreativestrategies,

persevere,andultimatelyprevailagainstwhatto

othersmayseemlikehopelessodds.Fourth,

weareprincipledandadhereunfailinglytothose

principleswhetherinlitigation,publicdebateor

internaldiscussion.Andfinally,weareresilient,

andeveninthefaceofheart-

breakingsetbacks,werecover

quicklyandsetinmotionstrat-egiestoovercomewhatever

defeatwemayhavesuffered

andmoveaheadaggressively.

Whenpeopleremark,asthey

oftendo,ontheespritdecorps

ofIJ,theyarerecognizingthis

culture.

Inadditiontothevictoriesthisculturehas

madepossible,ithasbeenindispensablein

growingIJintothenationalinstitutionitistoday.

TheIJWayenablestalentedpeopletothrive

andtosucceedbeyondexpectationsyearafter

year.Thatinturnhasenabledustopioneeran

unprecedentedapproachtopublicinterestlaw.

Wepursuecutting-edgeconstitutionallitigation

thathasputourissuesonthenationalagenda

andbroughtfivecasestotheU.S.Supreme

Courtinthepasteightyears.

Butaswestatedatourfounding,litigation

aloneisnotenough.

Thus,wehavebuiltanaward-winning

communicationsteamthatnotonlysecures

widespreadrecognitionofourwork,butalso

achievesreformsbymarshallingpublicopinion.

Ouractivismandoutreachtakeustoneigh-

borhoodsacrossAmericatothwarteminent

domainabuse,supportschoolchoiceand

opposearbitraryoccupationallicensinglaws.

Ourstrategicresearchprogrambringssophisti-

catedsocialsciencetobearon

issuesrelatedtoourlitigation.

Ourconstitutionalexpertiseistranslatedeffectivelyintoselect

legislativearenasbyournewleg-

islativecounsel.OurIJClinicon

Entrepreneurshiphelpsaspiring

inner-cityentrepreneurstopursue

theirdreamsofself-sufficiency.

Andourleandevelopmentand

administrationstaffsprovideanddeploythe

resourcesnecessarytooperateanationwide

organizationwithsixsoontobesevenoffices

andanearly$12millionannualbudget.

ThisiswhatthepeopleofIJhaveachieved

sofar.AndthisiswhythepeopleofIJevery-

whereshouldcelebratethefoundationwehave

laidforsuccessoverthenext20

years!u

Chip Mellor is IJs president and

general counsel.

20th Anniversarycontinued from page 1

2020liti

gatingforliberty

yearsyears

1991-2011

8

The IJ Way

Entrepreneurial Real World

Positive & Open

Principled

Resilient


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February 2

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February 2

By John E. Kramer Ineverunderstoodaudiophiles.Ilistened

tomyiPodthroughrun-of-the-millheadphones

anditsoundedjustfinetome.

ThenIwasluckyenoughtovisitwith

JimThiel,thefounderofTHIELAudioand

anIJdonoruntilhisrecentpassing.Jimsat

medowninhiscompanysshowroomatthe

ConsumerElectronicsShowtheworldslargest

technologytradeshowtoshowmewhatIwas

missing.HehookeduphisowniPodtoplay

BeethovensFifthPianoConcertothroughhis

soundsystem.InstantlyIunderstoodtheexpe-rienceaudiophileswereafter.

Doyouheartheseparationbetweeneach

instrument?heasked.Youcanheareach

instrumentindividually,asiftheentireorches-

traweresittinginfrontofyou.Thatiswhat

audiophilesareafter.Thatiswhatmakesour

systemdifferent.

JimThieldrewintheuninitiatedandthe

skepticalandwonthemoverthroughthemas-

teryofhiscraft.

ThatisthesamethingtheInstitutefor

Justiceworkstodoeachday,sharingourmes-sagewithmainstreammediawhomightnotini-

tiallyunderstandorappreciateourworldview.In

theendbecauseofthewaywecommunicate

andthecontentofthemessagewedeliverwe

consistentlyearnrespectfulmediacoverage

fromallcornersofthejournalisticrealm.

Oneofmyfavoritesuccessstoriesalong

theselinescamefromNationalPublicRadios

LegalCorrespondentNinaTotenberg,who

summedupwhatwehaveheardfromsomany

IJ Boldly GoesBeyond Usual Media Outlets

reportersovertheyears:Ilikeworkingwith

theInstituteforJusticebecauseyouguysare

happywarriors.Youreinformed,youbelieve

inwhatyousayanddeliveritwithasmile.As

Totenbergscommentattests,inthesubstance

andstyleofourmessage,IJismadeupof

happywarriors.

SimilarappreciationwasheapedonIJ

attheDailyDish,apopularblogrunin The

AtlanticbyjournalistAndrewSullivan,where

ConorFriedersdorfcountedIJamongthose

pursuingpragmaticlibertarianism.That,too,

ishowweseeourselves.Fromourinception,IJwascreatedtoberealworldwetakeimportant

ivorytowerideas,likeeconomicliberty,and

demonstratetheirimportancetoAmericans

onMainStreet.ThatiswhyTheAtlanticwrit-

ersandmanyotherscoverIJcases,suchas

ourlawsuitonbehalfofLouisianamonkswho

areblockedfromsellingcasketsbecauseof

agovernment-imposedfuneralhomecartel.

HeavyweightliberalbloggerMattYglesiasofthe

influentialCenterforAmericanProgress,like-

wiserecentlypraisedthisIJcasesaying,

...theviewthatpublicpolicyshouldencour-ageratherthandiscouragecompetitionisone

progressivesshouldbeabletoeasilyembrace.

Onemightbesurprisedtofindlengthydis-

cussionsinliberalnewsoutletsdemonstrating

theimportanceofpropertyrights,andyet,year

inandyearout,theInstituteforJusticehas

earnedsuchplacementsinpublicationslike

MotherJones,whichcoveredIJsbattleagainst

civilforfeitureabuse,andsyndicatedtelevision

programslikeDemocracyNow!,whichspot-

lightedIJsefforttoturnthedisastrousU.S.

SupremeCourtrulingintheKelocaseintoa

nationalcauseforreform.

IJtookitsbattleforfreespeechand

againstcampaignfinancerestrictionstoThe

HuffingtonPostinthewakeoftheunfounded

outrageovertheSupremeCourts Citizens

Unitedruling.IJSeniorAttorneyBertGall

pointedoutthattheverymediathatisupset

overtheruling,whichinrealitydidnothingbut

expandfreespeechrights,shouldhavefeared

theconsequencesofarulingthatwenttheotherwayanoutcomethatcouldultimately

haverestrictedthemediasabilitytoeditorialize

onpoliticsandendorsecandidates.

Throughoutitsnearly20-yearhistory,

theInstituteforJusticehasworkedtosetthe

standardintheFreedomMovementtoeffec-

tivelyadvanceouridealsnotonlyincourt,but

inthecourtofpublicopinion,andnotsolely

tothosefewinthemediawhoarephilosophi-

callypredisposedtoagreewithus,butalsoto

thosemanyinfluentialreportersandoutlets

whoareoftenatoddswithhowwethink.By

remainingpositive,real-worldandinsightful,

wewillcontinuetoworktoearntheircover-

ageandexpandthemessageof

freedom.u

John E. Kramer is IJs vice presi-

dent for communications.

2020litig

atingforlyearsyears


10/120

By Anthony Sanders

IJhastakenonsomeofthenastiest

licensingcartelsinAmericanindustry,

frominteriordesigntotransportationtoveterinarymedicine.Whereestablished

interestshaveusedoccupationallicens-

ingandgovernmentforcetofenceout

competitors,IJhasbeentheretoprotect

therightsofhard-workingAmericansto

earnanhonestliving.

Andnow,IJhastakenonthebig-

gestandmost-entrenchedcartelofthem

all:thelegalbar.

Acrossthenation,licensinglaws

protectestablishedattorneysbyburden-

ingaspiringpractitionerswithsuperflu-ouseducationalrequirementsjustfor

theprivilegeoftakingabarexam.A

minorityofstatesgoasfarasrequir-

ingattorneystoattendonlythoselaw

schoolsaccreditedbytheAmericanBar

Association.Inthesestates,evenifan

attorneyhaspracticedforyearswitha

stellarrecord,heorshecannotsitfor

thestatesbarexamletalonebecome

licensedwithoutgraduatingfroman

ABA-accreditedschool.

Minnesotaisoneofthesestates.

InDecember,IJMinnesotasubmittedto

theMinnesotaSupremeCourtadetailed

analysisofthechoke-holdthattheABA

hasoverthelicensureoflawyersinthe

landof10,000lakes.IJproposeda

changeallowingapersontotakethe

Minnesotabarexamifhealreadyis

licensedinanotherstate.

IJseffortsinMinnesotawillbea

significantblowtothemonopolythat

theABAhasoveraccreditationoflaw

schools.Itwilllowerthebarriersto

entryforprospectivelawyersandthereby

expandconsumerchoice.Inturn,we

willcontinuetoeducatethejudiciaryon

themisuseofoccupationalregulationsforfutureattacksonotheranticompetitive

regulations.

IJnotonlyattackedcurrentlicensing

requirements,butbriefedthecourton

theincreasingoverreachofoccupational

licensing.Forexample,lessthanfive

percentofworkersneededalicenseto

workinthe1950s.Approximately30

percentdotoday.Morethan800occu-

pationsrequirealicensetoworkinat

leastonestate.Further,althoughlicens-

ingisalmostalwayssoldtothepublicasnecessaryforhealthandsafety,thefact

thatestablishedindustrygroupsareusu-

allytheonespushingforgreaterlicensing

lawsshouldtipoffthepublicandregula-

torsthatsuchdemandsaremoreabout

protectingthemselvesfromcompetition

thanprotectingthepublic.Inother

words,whenapractitionerstandsupand

cries,Pleaseregulateme!thatshould

bearedflagtoallinvolved.

Ofcourse,keepingoutcompeti-

tionpaysrichdividends.Licensing

lawsdriveupwagesforlicenseesby15

percentwithinregulatedprofessions.

Forallthis,thereislittleevidencethat

licensingprotectspublichealthand

safetyorimprovesquality.

Justthink:IfIJcanbringeconomic

libertytolawyers,what

cantwedo?u

Anthony Sanders is an IJ

Minnesota Chapter

staff attorney.

IJ v. The Legal Cartel

Texas Horse TeethFloaters File RegulationsDown to Size

By Clark Neily

Afterathree-yearlegalbattleonbehalfof

horseteethfloatersinTexas,weareproudtosay,

Yippee,yall!OnNovember9,2010,Travis

CountyJudgeOrlindaNaranjostruckdownthe

Texasvetboardslawlesscampaignagainstnon-

veterinarianpractitioners,enablingourclients(andhundredsofotherhard-workingTexans)to

continuefloatinghorsesteethwithoutbureau-

craticinterference.

Horsesteethgrowthroughouttheirlifetimes

andmustoccasionallybefileddownorfloated

tomaintainproperlengthandalignment.Teeth

floatingisananimalhusbandrypracticethat

hasbeenperformedforcenturiesbylaypersons

whoseskillandexperienceoftenfarexceedthat

ofgovernment-licensedveterinarians.

Butin2007,theTexasvetboardwhich

hadlongacknowledgedandapprovedteethfloat-ingbynon-veterinarianssuddenlychangedits

policyandorderednon-veterinarianpractitioners

toceaseanddesistorfaceprosecutiontothe

fullestextentofthelaw.IJquicklyfiledsuiton

behalfofteethfloaterswhostoodtolosetheir

livelihoods,aswellashorseownerswhodidnt

appreciatethegovernmentdictatingwhothey

couldandcouldnotemploytocarefortheirani-

mals.

SuingtheTexasvetboardwaslikechasing

agreasedpigforthreeyears,theboardjuked

andjived,doingeverythingitcouldtopreventthe

courtsfromrulingonthelegalityofitsnewteeth-

floatingrule.Butjusticeprevailedintheend,

aswestoppedthevetboardsanti-competitive

assaultoneconomiclibertydeadinitstracks.

Notsurprisingly,theboard,stillbeholdentothe

veterinarianswhoselivelihoodsitprotects,has

vowedtotryagain.Wesay,Dont

messwithTexasteethfloaters!u

Clark Neilyis an IJ senior attorney.


11/12

February 2

2020litig

atingforlyearsyears

Volume20Issue1

About the publication

Liberty & Lawis published bimonthly by the

Institute for Justice, which, through strategic

litigation, training, communication, activismand research, advances a rule of law under

which individuals can control their destinies

as free and responsible members of society.

IJ litigates to secure economic liberty, school

choice, private property rights, freedom of

speech and other vital individual liberties,

and to restore constitutional limits on the

power of government. In addition, IJ trains

law students, lawyers and policy activists in

the tactics of public interest litigation.

Through these activities, IJ challenges theideology of the welfare state and illustrates

and extends the benefits of freedom to those

whose full enjoyment of liberty is denied by

government.

Editors: John E. Kramer

Layout & Design: Don Wilson

Howtoreachus:

Institute for Justice

901 N. Glebe RoadSuite 900

Arlington, VA 22203

General Information . . . . . (703) 682-9320

Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (703) 682-9321

Extensions:

Donations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Website: www.ij.org

E-mail: [email protected]: www.ij.org/donate

Quotable QuotesCrains Chicago Business

IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship Director

Beth Milnikel: Chicagoisunfortunatelytough

onentrepreneurs.Itshardtostartasmall

businessinthebestofcircumstances.Andits

tragicwhenthecityisstandinginthewayof

innovatorsandcreativepeoplewhoaretryingto

makeneighborhoodsabetterplacetolive.

WUSA9

(CBS-TV DC)

IJ client Kim Houghton regarding her

mural: Imnotgoingtoliedown.Imnot

goingtorollover.Iwasntgoingtojustwalk

awayandwhitewashoversomethingthatIspent

somuchmoneyonandputsomuchheartinto.

Itreallyisanexpressionofmypassionfordogs.

Washington Post(Editorial)

[S]hefiledsuitinfederalcourtwiththehelpoftheInstituteforJustice,acivillib-

ertieslawfirm.ThesuitarguesMs.HoughtonsFirstAmendmentrighttoexpress

herselfthroughartisbeingabridged.Anditnotesthattherewouldnothavebeen

aproblemifthemuraldepictedflowers,dragonsorponiesinsteadofdogs.The

absurditythatrevealsshouldcauseArlingtonresidentstowonderabouttheirgov-

ernmentsgraspofcommonsense.

CNN.com

IJ Washington Chapter Director Bill Maurer: WehopetheSupremeCourt

willstrikedownArizonasmatchingfundslaw.TheentirepurposeoflawslikeArizonasistoprovidethegovernmentwiththemeanstolimitindividualsspeech

bylimitingtheirspendingwhileputtingathumbonthescaleinfavorofgovernment-

fundedcandidates.ThatisnotallowedundertheFirstAmendment.

Las Vegas Review-Journal

IJ Senior Attorney Dana Berliner: Citiesandstategovernmentsareplacingall

kindsofbarrierstobusinessstartupsandinnovation.Thisisabadthingatalltimes

andparticularlyabadpolicyintimesofeconomiccalamity.Ingeneral,occupational

licensestendtoprotectpeoplealreadyinbusiness.


12/12IJi Ed d d Bill M i

Institute for Justice901 N. Glebe RoadSuite 900

Arlington, VA 22203

[T]he Supreme Courts

010 ruling in Citizens

United v. Federal Election

Commissionand a related

ower-court decision,

peechNow.org v. Federal

Election Commission, argu-

bly represent the most

undamental changes to

ampaign finance law in

ecades.

Congressional Research Service

NoN-PRoFIT oRG.

U . S . P o S T A G E

P A I D

I N S T I T U T E F o R

J U S T I C E

I i f J i

City officials want to throw us in jail because we give tours and describe things without a license.

The First Amendment does not allow the government to be inthe business of deciding who is and is not allowed to speak.

We are standing up for our right to communicate for a living.

And we will win.

We are IJ.

Documents

Liberty & Law: IJ's Bimonthly Newsletter (February 2011)