$500/Day Fines for Yard Skeletons Defeated!

In 2022, a federal court in Nashville imposed a gag order that prohibited civil-rights attorney Daniel Horwitz from discussing his cases against Tennessee’s privately run prisons. 🧵 @jaredmcclain.bsky.social

#Zoning is supposed to regulate a property's impact on neighbors—not pick winners and losers between nearly identical home businesses. Leavenworth, Wa. lets home massage therapists & salons operate in residential neighborhoods—but not licensed physical therapist Nicole Bulow. She's fighting back.

Across the US, thousands of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) capture the driving data of Americans going about their daily lives—almost always without a warrant. July 8 learn what the #Chatrie Supreme Court ruling means for 4th Amendment law + how abuse & errors have harmed innocent people.

America turns 250, and we're celebrating the IJ way. 🇺🇸 This week on Short Circuit, we look beyond 1776 to the rise of judicial review—the constitutional principle that shapes so much of IJ's work today. Listen to the newest episode: https://youtu.be/5fdpWD7m710?si=5_7_VKsxbJ4yaRfz

California doesn't need another occupational license. AB 1796 is a job killer that would make it harder for interior designers to work—while protecting industry insiders from competition. If there's no public safety threat, lawmakers should not be restricting the right to earn an honest living.

Sandersville Railroad Company is still trying to use the state's eminent domain power to take property from @ij.org's clients to build a rail line that the public can't use. Yesterday, we asked the Georgia Supreme Court to hear this case. ij.org/press-releas...

Yesterday, the #SupremeCourt declined to hear a case brought by an innocent man who was brutalized by members of a joint state-federal task force when he was a college student in 2014. 🧵

Anti-Weaponization Slush Fund Misses the Point #AntiWeaponizationFund

IJ staff break down key findings from IJ’s newest report, Policing for Profit 4, and tackle some of the most common questions about civil forfeiture laws in the country.

This city built a 500-camera AI tracking network. Now IJ is fighting back. Learn more about our federal lawsuit: https://ij.org/case/san-jose-license-plate-readers/ #ALPR

Eminent Domain for a PRIVATE Rail Line? Learn more about IJ's fight against eminent domain abuse in Sparta, Georgia: https://ij.org/case/sparta-georgia-eminent-domain/ @kinger-dc.bsky.social

NJ Family Farm Ordered to Pay $500K+ This year the #SupremeCourt will hear a family farm’s challenge to an agency court that acts as prosecutor, judge and jury. Learn more about this case here: https://ij.org/case/sun-valley-administrative-appeal/

The proliferation of police surveillance has led to incidents of police officers using #ALPR camera networks to keep tabs on their romantic interests. @cingraham.bsky.social

It’s Not a Speed Camera. It’s AI Surveillance. Learn more at plateprivacy.com!

A Lie Led to a Warrant—Then a Felony Arrest Learn more about IJ's new #SupremeCourt petition here: https://ij.org/press-release/denver-man-asks-supreme-court-to-revive-fourth-amendments-warrant-requirements/

A Lie Led to a Warrant—Then a Felony Arrest Learn more here: https://ij.org/press-release/denver-man-asks-supreme-court-to-revive-fourth-amendments-warrant-requirements/

NEW CASE Today, 3 San Jose residents teamed up with @ij.org to file a class action lawsuit against the city over its warrantless use of nearly 500 license plate reader cameras. @nbcnews.com's @kevincollier.bsky.social has the exclusive: www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne...

It’s Not a Speed Camera. It’s AI Surveillance. Learn more at plateprivacy.com!

Yesterday, an Alabama court upheld a law that allows game wardens to snoop on private land without a warrant or consent. @ij.org and our clients, who have had their land trespassed on by officers multiple times, will appeal this decision. ij.org/press-releas...

Carlos Pena spent 30 years building his business. It took minutes for an L.A. SWAT team to destroy it. Now they refuse to pay damages estimated at tens of thousands of dollars. With IJ's help, Carlos is asking the #SupremeCourt to hear his case.

Policing for Profit: $82 Billion Taken Since 2000 Learn more here: https://ij.org/report/policing-for-profit-4/ #civilforfeiture #Forfeiture #PolicingforProfit #dueprocessmatters #lawstudents #PublicInterestLaw

Fighting for the right to film the police isn’t anti-police, it’s pro-accountability.

Today, the #SupremeCourt declined to hear the case of Erma Wilson, who had her life turned upside down by a conviction in which her prosecutor was on the judge’s payroll. https://ij.org/press-release/supreme-court-turns-away-texas-womans-challenge-to-bonkers-constitutional-violation/

Victory for #FreeSpeech! Yesterday afternoon, a U.S. District Court handed a big win to independent journalist Justin Pulliam after a trial last summer. 🧵

City that Used “Blight” Labels to Steal Property DEFEATED Learn more here: https://ij.org/press-release/victory-court-vacates-bogus-blight-designation-of-perth-amboy-new-jersey-properties/

This week, IJ submitted an amicus brief in the #SCOTUS case Chatrie v. United States, urging the court to recognize that the execution of a multi-step geofence warrant violated the #4thAmendment.

The ROOM Act would remove several barriers to allow for streamlining construction of new units or the conversion of current buildings into modern co-living housing helping provide a valuable tool in bringing affordability back to #RhodeIsland communities.

“I still don’t understand why I was mistaken for a criminal and treated like a violent one and I hope that now I can start to get some answers and hold the people who did this responsible.” https://ij.org/press-release/woman-suing-us-marshals-over-false-arrest-overcomes-critical-legal-hurdle/

Hamdi Mohamud was a teenager when false claims by a task-force officer put her in federal jail for nearly 2 years. Today, the #SupremeCourt declined to hear her case, ending Hamdi's yearslong fight to hold a cross-deputized task-force officer accountable.

Thanks to IJ’s win in Bailey v. Iles, the 5th Circuit rejected the outdated “falsely shouting fire in a theater” excuse for censoring speech. Now that 5th Circuit ruling could protect another Louisiana man targeted for criticizing his sheriff.

Share the love this February by doubling your impact! ❤️ Many employers match donations—find out if yours does here: https://ij.org/support/employer-match/

"Individuals seeking accountability in the courts for wrongful acts by federal officers face serious challenges. Under current law, they are, in effect, trying to unlock the courthouse door with one of four different legal keys that are either broken or don’t fit." @theunpopulist.net:

$200 Cash Rule Forces Business to Take Customers' Private Info

Rights don’t protect anyone if they can’t be enforced. IJ is working to dismantle the legal barriers that shield federal agents from accountability. Learn more about our Project on Immunity and Accountability here: https://ij.org/issues/project-on-immunity-and-accountability/

Yesterday, a federal judge sided with Norfolk, Virginia in a federal lawsuit challenging the city's warrantless use of more than 170 automated license plate reader (#ALPR) cameras. Represented by IJ, Hampton Roads residents Lee Schmidt and Crystal Arrington will appeal the decision.

Landmark Court Battle: Family Beats $1M Forfeiture Attempt On January 24, 2013, IJ won a major federal court victory against civil forfeiture. This decision set an early, important precedent reining in federal forfeiture power.

Rights don’t protect anyone if they can’t be enforced. IJ is working to dismantle the legal barriers that shield federal agents from accountability. Learn more about our Project on Immunity and Accountability here: https://ij.org/issues/project-on-immunity-and-accountability/

Eric Andre’s Warrantless Search Was No Joke

Cops overlooked obvious evidence they were at the wrong place when they raided @ij.org clients Avery Marshall & Alisa Carr's home last year. Now, they're arguing they should get qualified immunity for the wrong house raid. They shouldn't. www.law360.com/articles/243...

In America, police can’t treat an innocent teenager walking near school like an armed threat over a minor theft. And once officers realize they’ve detained the wrong person, the Constitution requires them to let him go immediately.

Historic Renters Privacy' Court Ruling While this is a monumental win for renter privacy, it still allows for unconstitutional searches without individualized probable cause. IJ plans to press forward with an appeal to end the practice once and for all.

Leo is a U.S. citizen. They tackled him. They handcuffed him. They ignored his REAL ID. Weeks later, he was detained again. Now, represented by IJ, Leo is fighting back, because if Americans must follow the law, the government must follow the Constitution. More here: ij.org/case/alabama...

TWICE in 3 Weeks: ICE Detained the Same U.S. Citizen Now, represented by IJ, Leo Garcia Venegas has filed a lawsuit against DHS in U.S. District Court. Learn more about Leo's case here: https://ij.org/case/alabama-construction-site-raids/

U.S. citizens, Leo Garcia Venegas and George Retes, were just trying to work when they got swept up in federal immigration raids. Even though both men identified themselves as U.S. citizens, multiple agents aggressively detained them—in Leo’s case two separate times and in George’s case for 3 days.

Inmates Forced to Pay for Sheriff's Slush Fund A class-action lawsuit alleges that an Iowa sheriff created a devious scheme to take money from people accused of crimes & keep it for his department. IJ is challenging a similar scheme in Brookside, AL: https://ij.org/case/brookside-alabama-fines/

✨ 2025 was a winning year for IJ and we’re already working to make 2026 even better! Thank you for standing with us.

The Institute for Justice is growing and looking for mission-driven people to join our team. We’re hiring for roles in litigation, activism, communications, development, administration, and student fellowships. Learn more at IJ.org/Careers

🎊 IJ's 2026 Resolutions 🎊 ◻️ Return to the #SupremeCourt ◻️ #EndCivilForfeiture ◻️ Fight for the #4thAmendment ◻️ Protect your right to earn an honest living ◻️ Defend #FreeSpeech ◻️ #EndQualifiedImmunity

The FBI raided the wrong home — and left an innocent family traumatized. They fought back. All the way to the Supreme Court. And they won.