Cases

Economic Liberty
“The Institute for Justice argues that regulations that restrict entry into a field violate constitutional guarantees of liberty and equal protection of the laws when they bear no rational relationship to a legitimate government objective. In recent years the institute’s litigators have opened the taxi markets of Denver, Cincinnati and Indianapolis and have emancipated the providers of jitney services in Houston, generally for the benefit of minorities and to the consternation of protected interests.”
—George F. Will
Arbitrary licensing and permitting laws foreclose many occupations that are ideally suited to people of modest means. The Institute for Justice challenges these laws to secure constitutional protection for the right to earn a living and to demonstrate the importance of entrepreneurship to inner-city revitalization.
The precedent we set in our work and the victories we achieve will pave the way for thousands of hard-working men and women to enter the work force and provide for themselves and their families through honest enterprise. Check out more information on our economic liberty litigation.
- Current Economic Liberty Cases
- Atlanta Vending-Miller v. City of Atlanta
- Ct Teeth Whitening-Martinez v. Mullen
- DC Tours-Edwards v. District of Columbia
- Fighting Wisconsin's Ban on Cheap Gas-Bhandari v. Nilsestuen
- Florida Interior Design-Locke v. Shore
- Hialeah Vending-Membreno v. City of Hialeah
- Interior Design Litigation-Interior Design Litigation Summary
- Lake Chelan Ferries-Courtney v. Goltz
- Louisiana Caskets-Saint Joseph Abbey, et al. v. Castille, et al.
- Milwaukee Taxis-Ghaleb Ibrahim v. City Of Milwaukee
- Minnesota Embalming Rooms-
- Nashville Limos-Bokhari v. Nashville
- Shirlington Dog Park Mural-Wag More Dogs, LLC v. Artman
- Texas Eyebrow Threading-Patel v. TX Department of Licensing and Regulation
- Utah Hairbraiding-Clayton v. Steinagel
- Completed Economic Liberty Cases
- Arizona Eyebrow Threading-Gutierrez v. Aune
- Arizona Hairbraiding-Farmer v. Arizona Board of Cosmetology
- Arizona San Tan Flat-Dale Bell v. Pinal County Board of Supervisors
- Arizona Wine-Parker v. Morrison
- California Hair Braiding-Cornwell v. California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Challenging Denver's Taxicab Monopoly-Jones v. Temmer
- Connecticut Interior Design-Susan Roberts v. Jerry Farrell
- Dallas Sign Ban-Gilliland, et al v. City of Dallas
- Davis-Bacon Act-Brazier Construction Co., Inc., v. Reich
- El Paso Vending-Casteneda v. City of El Paso
- Las Vegas Limousines-Clutter v. State of Nevada
- Louisiana Florists (first challenge)-Meadows v. Odom
- Louisiana Florists (new challenge)-Chauvin v. Strain
- Maryland Animal Massage-Clemens v. Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, et al
- Maryland Funeral Homes-Brown v. Hovatter
- Minneapolis Sign Hangers-Dahlen v. City of Minneapolis
- Minneapolis Taxis-Minneapolis Taxi Owners Coalition, Inc. v. City of Minneapolis
- Minnesota Hairbraiding-Anderson v. Minnesota Board of Barber and Cosmetologist Examiners
- Minnesota Horse Teeth Floating-Johnson v. Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine
- Minnesota Small Farms-Richard Bergmann et al. v. City of Lake Elmo
- Mississippi Hairbraiding-Armstrong v. Lunsford
- Missouri Caskets-State Board of Embalmers & Funeral Directors v. Gegner
- New Mexico Interior Design-Sherry Franzoy and Caryn Armijo v. Barbara Templeman
- New York Vans-Ricketts v. New York City
- New York Wine-Swedenburg v. Kelly
- Ohio Hairbraiding-Hosey v. Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
- Oklahoma Caskets-Powers v. Harris
- Pennsylvania River Rafting-Summer's Best Two Weeks v. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia Tour Guides-Tait v. City of Philadelphia
- Red Wing Minnesota Trash Hauling-Paul's Industrial Garage and Gibson Sanitation v. City of Red Wing
- San Juan Vending-Franco v. San Juan County
- Seattle, Washington Bed & Breakfast-McAfertys v. City of Seattle
- Seattle, Washington Trash Hauling-Ventenbergs v. The City of Seattle
- Tennessee Caskets-Craigmiles v. Giles
- Texas Computer Repair-Rife v. Texas Private Security Board
- Texas Equine Dentistry-Mitz v. Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
- Texas Equine Dentistry (2nd Challenge)-Boone, et al. v. Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, et al.
- Texas Interior Design-Byrum, et al. v. Landreth, et al.
- Virginia Yoga Challenge-Kalish v. Milliken
- Washington DC Hairbraiding- Taalib-Din Abdul Uqdah v. District of Columbia
- Amicus Briefs - "Friend of the Court" Briefs filed by IJ
- Minnesota Admission to Practice Law-Petition of Four Licensed Lawyers
- Minnesota Embalming Rooms>
- Denver Taxis II - Release: 10-27-2011>
- AZ Eyebrow Threading - Release: 10-12-2011>
- Economic Liberty is as American as Baseball and Apple Pie>
- Divine Justice: IJ Case on Behalf of Monks Puts Lid on Louisiana Casket Monopoly>


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


ECONOMIC LIBERTY
Putting Useless Government Requirements to Rest


FIRST AMENDMENT
Two Years Later: Institute for Justice Continues to Defend
Landmark Citizens United Ruling


FIRST AMENDMENT
9th Circuit Upholds Injunction Protecting Right of Free Speech




