| Institute for Justice | |
|---|---|
 IJ logo |
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| Formation | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Virginia |
| Website | |
The Institute for Justice (IJ) is a non-profit libertarian public interest law firm in the United States. Its mission is to provide pro bono legal advice and representation, litigating strategically to pursue its free market ideas. It supports four core ideals: school choice, free speech, economic liberty, and property rights. It was founded in 1991 by Chip Mellor and Clint Bolick. On 4 March 2002, the Institute for Justice launched an activist project called the Castle Coalition, aimed at fighting eminent domain abuse. IJ has established state chapters in Minnesota, Texas, Arizona, and Washington.
The Institute has been involved in numerous high-profile cases. Particularly noteworthy cases include school choice lawsuits in Cleveland, Milwaukee, Arizona, and Florida. They have also been closely involved in a pair of important eminent domain lawsuits, including Coking vs. C.R.D.A, in which they defended the right of Vera Coking to stay in her home despite the intent of Donald Trump to use her land for a parking lot, and the landmark eminent domain lawsuit of Kelo v. City of New London, winning the former and losing the latter. They were also involved with the interstate wine sales case of Swedenburg v. Kelly.
In addition to litigation, "the Institute [takes its cases] to the court of public opinion with a blitz of editorials and op-eds in leading local and national newspapers." [1] The Institute also conducts training programs for law students, hosts several annual conferences, and publishes several newsletters, including Liberty and Law and research papers.[2]
The initial funding for the Institute came from the Koch Family Foundations which also fund the libertarian Cato Institute and Citizens for a Sound Economy.
Mellor currently serves as the Institute's president and general counsel.
References
External links
- Institute for Justice official website
- IJ's Charity Navigator profile
- Phil Wilayto, "The Institute For Justice", A Job is a Right Campaign, February 8, 2000
- Attorney Article on Attorney.org highlighting the Institute for Justice
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