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Founded As reported by the Detroit ''Metro Times'', People for the American Way described IJ as one of the litigation groups that "have eagerly sought out potential court challenges in 1991 by [[Chip Mellor]] lower-income urban communities and [[loudly claim the mantle of supporters of education for the disadvantaged. In the past, Clint Bolick]], the '''s Institute for Justicewas better known for his vehement animosity towards virtually every proposed civil rights bill. He even opposed those bills supported by Presidents Nixon and Bush. For example, he branded the 1991 Civil Rights Act as a 'quota'' is a US [[libertarian]] public interest law firm. [[John Blundell]] bill, even after it was also a founder directorsupported by President Bush and 90 percent of the Congress."<refname="metro times">The LSE Hayek SocietyCurt Guyette, "[http://webwww2.archivemetrotimes.orgcom/webeditorial/20050205005452/http://wwwstory.lse.ac.uk/clubs/hayek/capitalism.htm asp?id=9712" You don’t know Dick],"Capitalism"]''Metro Times'', The LSE Hayek SocietyOctober 4, archived from January 20032006. (Scroll down to see the section on John Blundell)Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
The Institute offered two amicus briefs IJ has state chapters in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Texas, and Washington.<ref name="about"/>{{clear}}{{Template:KochConnection}} __TOC__ ==Ties to the ''[[Citizens United|Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission]]'' case in favor of Citizens United.Koch Brothers==
HoweverAccording to a statement on IJ's website, aside from providing legal assistance "Charles Koch provided the initial seed funding that made it possible to businesses, launch the Institute has occasionally given help to individuals against government oppression. One example was in the Supreme Court case ''Gonzales v1991. Raich'', the Institute issued an ''amicus curiae'' brief on behalf David Koch has been a generous benefactor each year of a medical marijuana patientIJ’s first decade."<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://www.marijuanaij.org/bloomberg11charles-a-29david-04koch-2 IJ Thanks Its Cornerstone Supporters], organizational website, accessed June 25, 2014.htm] </ref>
In Since its founding, IJ has received donations from a addition number of groups with links to litigation, "the Institute [takes its cases[Koch brothers]] to the court of public opinion with , including a blitz donation of editorials $15,000 from the [[Charles G. Koch Foundation]] in 2001 and op-eds two donations of $250,000 each from the [[David H. Koch Foundation]] in leading local 1999 and national newspapers2001."IJ also received $716,800 from [http://www[DonorsTrust]] and the [[Donors Capital Fund]] between 2010 and 2012.ij.org/publications/liberty/1997/l_9_97_e.html]
One of Other organizations with links to the target of Kochs have worked on cases with IJ, including the [[Cato Institute is ]] and the [[campaign finance reformGoldwater Institute]]. The Arizona chapter has filed a lawsuit challenging the "Clean Elections Act".
The Institute operates two additional projects: the [http://www.castlecoalition.org/ Castle Coalition], described as a "nationwide grassroots property rights activism project" aimed at fighting eminent domain, and [http://makenolaw.org/ Congress Shall Make No Law], a "free speech blog."
{{Template:KochConnection}}
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]]. Charles and David Koch were named "Cornerstone Supporters" in 2001. [http://www.ij.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1750&Itemid=245]
Other notable funders include IJ has highlighted the central role of the Koch brothers in its founding by presenting its "Cornerstone Award" to them: :"Charles Koch provided the initial seed funding that made it possible to launch the Institute in 1991. David Koch has been a generous benefactor each year of IJ’s first decade. We are deeply grateful for their support and the commitment to liberty it represents. Thank you, Charles and David!"<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://mediamattersactionwww.ij.org/transparencycharles-a-david-koch-2 IJ Thanks Its Cornerstone Supporters], organizational website, accessed June 25, 2014.</organization/Dick_and_Betsy_Devos_Foundation Dick and Betsy DeVos ref> Based on data collected by Media Matters,<ref>American Bridge 21st Century Foundation], which funds religious right groups and [http://hostconservativetransparency.madison.comorg/newstop/opinion?yr=&yr1=&yr2=&formterm=856&formtax=recipient&submit= Top Supporters of Institute for Justice], ''ConservativeTransparency.org'', accessed June 25, 2014.</column/john_nichols/article_20b2a37c-2262-5627-8073-6e6003f30bda.html advocates school choiceref> other major funders of IJ include the [[Dick DeVos|Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation]] , the conservative [[Scaife Foundations|Sarah Mellon Scaife Foundation]], the school privatization-supporting [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]] and the [[Walton Family Foundation]]. In 2012, the most recent year for which also data is available, the biggest donors to IJ were:<ref>Conservative Transparency Project, [http://philanthropyconservativetransparency.comorg/article/The-Quiet-Walton-Family-Fund/126421top/?sidyr=2012&yr1=&utm_sourceyr2=&utm_mediumformterm=en backs charter schools and vouchers856&formtax=recipient&submit= Top Supporters of Institute for Justice, 2012], Media Matters, accessed June 25, 2014. A complete list </ref> *[[Claws Foundation]]: $1,000,000*[[Dunn's Foundation for the Advancement of funders can be found at the Right Thinking]]: $750,000*[[Searle Freedom Trust]]: $300,000*[[Kovner Foundation]]: $250,000*[[DonorsTrust]]: $234,300*[[Donors Capital Fund]]: $190,000*[[httpLynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Institute_for_Justice/funders Media Matters Action Network Conservative Transparency website$170,000*[[Ravenel and Elizabeth Curry Foundation]]. : $100,000*[[httpSarah Scaife Foundation]]://mediamattersaction.org/transparency/organization/Institute_for_Justice/funders$85,000*[[John William Pope Foundation]]: $75,000 ==Personnel=====Senior Staff===
==Officers and Executives==As of June 2014:<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://ij.org/staff Staff], organizational website, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref> *[[Deborah SimpsonWilliam H. Mellor]], Managing DirectorPresident and General Counsel*[[Steven Anderson]], Director of Finance & AdministrationManaging Vice President*Mr. [[William MellorDana Berliner]], PresidentLitigation Director
===Former staff===
*[[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 and trustee of the [[Reason Foundation]]
*[[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]]
===Odd bedfellows===
The Institute for Justice rubs shoulders with two intelligence firms: [[Blackwater]] offshoot [[Total Intelligence Solutions, LLC | Total Intelligence Solutions]] occupies the adjacent (or perhaps same) office, at Suite 901, and one floor below, in Suite 810, lies [[MZM Inc. | MZM]] (of [[Mitchell Wade]] and [[Duke Cunningham]] fame) offshoot [[Athena Innovative Solutions]]. [[Towers Watson]] has two floors of the building, and a sister building in the same complex houses the [[National Rural Electric Cooperative Association]].
===References===<references/>{{Template:Koch Related SW Articles}}
===External articles===
update from talk page, add board & former staff back in, add clear tag, replace redlinks
{{#badges:Koch Exposed|AEX}}The '''Institute for Justice''' (IJ) is a libertarian public interest law firm registered as a [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit and founded in 1991.<ref name="about">Institute for Justice, [http://www.ij.org/about About], organizational website, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref> The IJ names its four major issues as "private property, economic liberty, free speech and school choice." It claims to have litigated almost 200 cases with a 70 percent victory rate, including four victories out of five Supreme Court cases.<ref name="about"/>
IJ was cofounded by [[William H. Mellor|William "In pursuit Chip" Mellor]], previously president of its goal the [[State Policy Network]]-member [[Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy]]<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://ij.org/wmellor-2 William H. Mellor], biographical page, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref> and 2012 recipient of a radical laissezthe conservative [[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]'s Bradley Prize.<ref>Bradley Prizes, [http://bradleyprizes.org/recipients/william-h.-faire capitalismmellor William H. Mellor], biographical page, accessed June 25, the Institute has initiated a number of lawsuits aimed at ending government regulation of business2014. While the lawsuits generally involve small businesses</ref> IJ's other co-founder, often in communities of color[[Clint Bolick]], joined the goal is to set a legal precedent for the deregulation of big business [[Goldwater Institute]] in general2007.<ref>Goldwater Institute, [http://goldwaterinstitute. Utilizing both litigation and public advocacyorg/clint-bolick Clint Bolick], organizational biography, accessed June 25, the Institute has 2014.</ref> [[John Blundell]] was also played a critical role in the groundbreaking school voucher programs in Milwaukee and Clevelandfounding director."<ref>LSE Hayek Society, [http://myweb.execpcarchive.comorg/web/~ajrc20050205005452/ifjhttp://www.lse.ac.uk/clubs/hayek/capitalism.htmlhtm Capitalism], organizational website, archived from January 2003. (Scroll down to see the section on John Blundell).</ref>
==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==
In 2011, Institute for Justice Executive Director Lee McGrath introduced the "Asset Forfeiture Process and Private Property Protection Act" model legislation to the [[Public Safety and Elections Task Force]] meeting at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] (ALEC) in New Orleans.<ref name="PSEMeetingAgenda">American Legislative Exchange Council, "Public Safety and Elections Task Force Meeting," agenda and meeting materials, August 4, 2011, on file with CMD</ref>
{{about_ALEC}}
==Activities==
IJ's website notes that in addition to litigation, it "has a legislative team working to make changes at the local and state government levels." IJ provides model legislation on its website in areas such as eminent domain, business regulation, and criminal forfeiture.<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://ij.org/cases/legislation Legislation], organizational website, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
The Milwaukee-based "A Job is a Right Campaign" wrote, "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."<ref name="metro times"/>
==Cases==
Below are cases in which the Institute for Justice was involved that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
===Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus (2014)===
On February 28, 2014, IJ filed an [http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/supreme_court_preview/briefs-v3/13-193_pet_amcu_ifj-etal.authcheckdam.pdf amicus brief] with the [[Reason Foundation]] in the case ''[[Susan B. Anthony List]] et al. v. Steven Driehaus, et al.'',<ref>SCOTUSblog, [http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/susan-b-anthony-list-v-driehaus/ Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus], case page, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref> which dealt with an Ohio law that "makes it a criminal offense to make knowingly or reckless false statements about a candidate," according to ''Reuters''.<ref name="hurley">Lawrence Hurley, "[http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/16/us-usa-court-election-idUSKBN0ER1N920140616 U.S. justices revive challenge to Ohio election law on false statements]," ''Reuters'', June 16, 2014. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref> Responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in January 2014 to hear the case, Paul Sherman, an attorney for IJ, told the ''Columbus Dispatch'', "I think this is further evidence that the court sees serious problems with state laws that regulate electoral speech [...] They have recently shown a lot of hostility to these kinds of laws, and with very good reason."<ref>Jack Torry, "[http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/01/11/justices-to-weigh-ohio-campaign-speech-law.html Justices to weigh Ohio campaign-speech law]," ''Columbus Dispatch'', January 11, 2014. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
The Supreme Court unanimously reversed the judgement of two lower courts and remanded the case to the lower courts, in favor of the Susan B. Anthony List, on June 16, 2014.<ref>U.S. Supreme Court, [http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/susan-b-anthony-list-v-driehaus/ Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus], ''SCOTUSblog'', accessed August 2014.</ref>
===Arizona Free Enterprise Club Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett (2011)===
IJ represented several challengers of the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Act of 1998, which provided for public financing of candidates who "agreed to limit their personal spending to $500, participate in at least one debate and return unspent money," according to the ''New York Times''.<ref name="az law">Adam Liptak, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/us/politics/28campaign.html?_r=0 Justices Strike Down Arizona Campaign Finance Law]," ''New York Times'', June 27, 2011. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref> The case resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the Arizona law in a 5-4 vote, with the majority arguing that "the law violated the First Amendment rights of candidates who raise private money. Such candidates, the majority said, may be reluctant to spend money to speak if they know that it will give rise to counterspeech paid for by the government."<ref name="az law"/>
===Winn v. Garriott (2010)===
''Winn v. Garriott'' (also known as ''Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn'') had challenged "an Arizona tax credit which provides tax credits for contributions to tuition organizations, which then use the contributions to provide scholarships for, among others, religious schools."<ref>SCOTUSblog, [http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/arizona-christian-school-tuition-organization-v-winn-garriott-v-winn/ Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn], case file, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
In a 2011 decision, the US Supreme Court let the program stand, arguing that those challenging the law did not have standing to do so. The ''New York Times'' suggested that, "by closing the courthouse door to some kinds of suits that claim violations of the First Amendment’s ban on government establishment of religion, the court’s ruling in the case may be quite consequential."<ref>Adam Liptak, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/us/05scotus.html Supreme Court Allows Tax Credit for Religious Tuition]," ''New York Times'', April 4, 2011. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
===Kelo v. City of New London (2005)===
As described by the ''Washington Post'', the Supreme Court in ''Kelo v. City of New London'' ruled "that local governments may force property owners to sell out and make way for private economic development when officials decide it would benefit the public, even if the property is not blighted and the new project's success is not guaranteed."<ref name="kelo">Charles Lane, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062300783.html Justices Affirm Property Seizures]," ''Washington Post'', June 24, 2005. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
IJ represented the property owners in the case; IJ also helped produce a film about the case in 2014, "Little Pink House."<ref>Ilya Somin, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/06/23/a-forthcoming-documentary-on-kelo-v-city-of-new-london/ A forthcoming film about Kelo v. City of New London]," '''Washington Post'', June 23, 2014. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
===Swedenburg v. Kelly (2005)===
IJ's website states that it represented Virginia vintner Juanita Swedenburg, California vintner David Lucas, and "wine consumers" in a 2000 federal lawsuit "challenging the ban on direct interstate wine shipments in New York." According to IJ, the case dealt with "Internet commerce, free trade among the states, and regulations that hamper small businesses and the consumers they seek to serve."<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://ij.org/swedenburg-v-kelly Swedenburg v. Kelly], case description, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
The case was consolidated with a similar case, ''Granholm v. Heald'', by the Supreme Court, which held that both Michigan and New York bans on direct interstate wine sales did violate the Commerce Clause.<ref>Justice Anthony Kennedy, [http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13655407080576035263&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr Granholm, Governor of Michigan, et al. v. Heald et al.], Supreme Court opinion, May 16, 2005. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
===Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)===
As described by the Berkley Center at Georgetown University, in the case ''Zellman v. Simmons-Harris'', "the Supreme Court upheld an Ohio law that provided tuition assistance to low-income students living in Cincinnati who chose to attend private schools, and academic support for students whose parents chose to keep them in public schools," and held that the law did not violate the Establishment Clause even if tuition aid was used for a religious school.<ref>Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, & World Affairs, Georgetown University, [http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/resources/cases/zelman-v-simmons-harris?q= Zelman v. Simmons-Harris], case summary, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
In a statement on its website, IJ describes the court's ruling in the case as having "removed the federal Constitution from the legal arsenal of teachers' unions and other school choice opponents and opened the door to full vindication of Brown's promise of equal educational opportunity for all."<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://ij.org/zelman-v-simmons-harris Zelman v. Simmons-Harris], case description, accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
IJ joined a brief filed by the [[Cato Institute]], along with the [[Goldwater Institute]] and the [[Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice]].<ref>Erik S. Jaffe, Cato Institute, [http://www.cato.org/publications/legal-briefs/zelman-v-simmonsharris Zelman v. Simmons-Harris], legal brief, June 1, 2001. Accessed June 25, 2014.</ref>
==Funding==
*[[John E. Kramer]], Vice President for Communications
*[[Clint BolickDeborah Simpson]], Vice President & National Director of for State Chaptersand Institute Growth and Integration*[[Beth Stevens]], Vice President for Development*[[Michael Bindas]], Senior Attorney*[[Scott G. Bullock]], Senior Attorney*[[Bert Gall]], Senior Attorney*[[Dick Komer]], Senior Attorney*[[Robert McNamara]], Senior Attorney*[[Clark Neily]], Senior Attorney*[[Jeff Rowes]], Senior Attorney*[[Paul Sherman]], Senior Attorney*additional staff and attorneys listed at [http://ij.org/staff http://ij.org/staff] ===Former Staff===
*[[Brian Montgomery]], Director of Finance & Administration
*[[Clint Bolick]], Vice President & National Director of State Chapters
===Boardof Directors=== As of August 2014:<ref>Institute for Justice, [http://www.ij.org/about/board Board], organizational website, accessed August 2014.</ref>
*[[David B. Kennedy]] (chairman): President of the [[Earhart Foundation]]
*[[Chip Mellor]]: President and General Counsel of the Institute for Justice
*[[Arthur Dantchik]]: Partner at Susquehanna Investment Group
* Bob Gelfond: CEO, MQS Management
* Kenneth N. Levy: Principal and Co-Founder, Jacobs Levy Equity Management
*[[Robert A. Levy]]: Chairman, [[Cato Institute]]
*[[Jim Lintott]]: Principal, Freedom Management Group LLC (former Chairman of Sterling Foundation Management and trustee of the [[Reason Foundation]])
*[[Stephen Modzelewski]]: Managing Member, Maple Engine L.L.C. (former President of Watermark Management Corporation and trustee of the [[Reason Foundation]])
* Mary E. Stiefel: Miami, FL
*[[Abigail Thernstrom]]: Commissioner on U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and Adjunct Scholar, [[American Enterprise Institute]] (former Senior Fellow at the [[Manhattan Institute]])
===Former Boardmembers===
*[[Mark Babunovic]]: Vice President, Bank of New York
*[[Gerrit Wormhoudt]]: Attorney-at-Law Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson and Kitch
==Contact detailsInformation==
Institute for Justice <br>
901 N. Glebe Road<br>
Fax: 703.682.9321<br>
Web: http://www.ij.org/
===State chaptersChapters===
Arizona<ref>{{cite web
|publisher=Institute for Justice
Fax: (206) 341-9311<br>
==Articles and resourcesResources=====Related SourceWatch articlesArticles===
===External resourcesArticles===
* The London School of Economics Hayek Society, "[http://www.lse.ac.uk/clubs/hayek/capitalism.htm John Blundell]", ''Capitalism'' seminar, Hayek society, accessed January 2004
* Debra England, "[http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DebraEngland/2006/12/16/top_10_charitable_gift_ideas_for_this_holiday_season Top 10 charitable gift ideas for this holiday season]," ''TownHall.com'', December 16, 2006.
* Institute of Justice, [http://www.ij.org/profile/board/body.shtml Board Members], accessed January 2004.
===References===<references/> {{Category:ALEC Exposed}}[[Category:ALEC Non-Profits]][[Category:Koch Connection]]
