Institute for Justice

Founded in 1991 by Chip Mellor and Clint Bolick, the Institute for Justice is a US libertarian public interest law firm. John Blundell was also a founder director. [1]

"In pursuit of its goal of a radical laissez-faire capitalism, the Institute has initiated a number of lawsuits aimed at ending government regulation of business. While the lawsuits generally involve small businesses, often in communities of color, the goal is to set a legal precedent for the deregulation of big business in general. Utilizing both litigation and public advocacy, the Institute has also played a critical role in the groundbreaking school voucher programs in Milwaukee and Cleveland. "[2]

However, aside from providing legal assistance to businesses, the Institute has occasionally given help to individuals against government oppression. One example was in the Supreme Court case Gonzales v. Raich, the Institute issued an amicus curiae brief on behalf of a medical marijuana patient.[3]

In a 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."[4]

One of the target of the Institute is campaign finance reform. The Arizona chapter has filed a lawsuit challenging the "Clean Elections Act".

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. The Walton Family Foundation also contributed money.

Officers and Executives

• Deborah Simpson, Managing Director
• Steven Anderson, Director of Finance & Administration
• Mr. William Mellor, President
• John E. Kramer, Vice President for Communications
• Clint Bolick, Vice President & National Director of State Chapters

Former staff

• Brian Montgomery, Director of Finance & Administration
• Clint Bolick, Vice President & National Director of State Chapters

Board

• David B. Kennedy (chairman): President of the Earhart Foundation
• Chip Mellor: President and General Counsel of the Institute for Justice
• Mark Babunovic: Vice President, Bank of New York
• Arthur Dantchik: Partner at Susquehanna Investment Group
• Robert A. Levy: Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies at Cato Institute
• Jim Lintott: Chairman of Sterling Foundation Management
• Stephen Modzelewski: President of Watermark Management Corporation and trustee of the Reason Foundation
• Abigail Thernstrom: Commissioner on U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
• Gerrit Wormhoudt: Attorney-at-Law Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson and Kitch

Contact details

Institute for Justice
901 N. Glebe Road
Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 703.682.9320
Fax: 703.682.9321
Web: http://www.ij.org/

Articles and resources

External articles

• The London School of Economics Hayek Society, "John Blundell", Capitalism seminar, Hayek society, accessed January 2004
• Debra England, "Top 10 charitable gift ideas for this holiday season," TownHall.com, December 16, 2006.
• Phil Wilayto, "The Institute For Justice", A Job is a Right Campaign, February 8, 2000.
• Institute of Justice, Board Members, accessed January 2004.