Cases

First Amendment

IJ defends freedom of speech in a variety of contexts, from commercial speech to political speech, ensuring that government regulation is constrained and that new forms of communications can become the technologies of freedom.

With the Internet, virtually anyone can be a publisher. But while individuals view such powerful media as opportunities to expand the free flow of information in the marketplace of ideas, government regulatory agencies consider them a threat. Devastating consequences for a republic result when government erects barriers to speech that prevent individuals from speaking or publishing opinions that can be out of favor with the current political elite.

Representing software developers and online content providers, the Institute’s litigation extended First Amendment protections for Internet speech, thereby limiting government’s regulation of speech and commerce via software and the Internet.

• Current First Amendment Cases
• Washington Grassroots Lobbying-Many Cultures, One Message et al. v. Clements
• Texas Interior Design-Byrum, et al. v. Landreth, et al.
• Dallas Sign Ban-Gilliland, et al v. City of Dallas
• Texas Eminent Domain Censorship-Royall v. Main
• Texas Computer Repair-Rife v. Texas Private Security Board
• Parker North, CO Free Speech-Sampson v. Buescher
• Interior Design Litigation-Interior Design Litigation Summary
• Florida Interior Design-Locke v. Shore
• St. Louis Free Speech-Neighborhood Enterprises, Inc. v. City of St. Louis
• Arizona Campaign Finance-Arizona Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett
• Philadelphia Tour Guides-Tait v. City of Philadelphia
• SpeechNow.org-SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission

• Completed First Amendment Cases
• Virginia Yoga Challenge-Kalish v. Milliken
• Clarksville, TN Eminent Domain Protest-Swift v. Clarksville Property Rights Coalition
• Arizona Free Speech-Salib v. City of Mesa
• Defending Micro-radio-Roy Neset v. United States of America
• New Orleans Book Ban-Wexler v. City of New Orleans
• CFTC Challenge-Taucher v. Born
• Mackinac Free Speech-Battaglieri v. Mackinac Center for Public Policy
• Arizona Campaign Finance (First Challenge)-Lavis v. Bayless
• California Internet Real Estate Restrictions-ForSaleByOwner.com v. Zinneman
• "Got Milk" Ad Campaign-Cochran v. Veneman
• Minnesota Winery Internet Speech-Crockett v. Minnesota Department of Public Safety
• Lynnwood, WA Sign Ordinance-Epoch Design v. City of Lynnwood
• Redmond, WA Free Speech-Dennis Ballen, et al., v. The City of Redmond, et al.
• Washington Political Speech-San Juan County v. No New Gas Tax
• Colorado Free Speech-Independence Institute v. Buescher
• New Hampshire Free Speech-Skynet Corporation d/b/a ZeroBrokerFees.com v. Slattery
• Glendale, OH Free Speech-Pagan v. Fruchey
• Florida Political Speech-Broward Coalition v. Browning
• Connecticut Interior Design-Susan Roberts v. Jerry Farrell

• Amicus Briefs - "Friend of the Court" Briefs filed by IJ
• Citizens United v. FEC-Citizens United Amicus
• U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Vermont's Campaign Expenditure and Contribution Limits-
• Institute for Justice Urges U.S. Supreme Court To Protect First Amendment Rights & Uphold Paycheck Protections-
• IJ on Wisconsin Right to Life-Case is Part of Growing Trend of Speech Regulation