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Institute for Justice updates
Eminent Domain
New Petition Asks Supreme Court to Overturn Infamous Kelo Eminent Domain Decision
In Kelo v. New London, one of the most reviled Supreme Court decisions in recent decades, the Court allowed eminent domain to be used for private gain. Now, IJ has partnered with a landowner to ask the Court to take up a similar case in New York where a government agency seized a piece of land to provide private parking for a nearby private office building. This marks the first time IJ has asked the Supreme Court to overrule Kelo.
Judge Orders City of South Fulton to Let Braiding Shop Open
Awa Diagne immigrated from Senegal over 30 years ago in search for a better life. Since then, she has married, raised six children, and supported her family by braiding hair. She was on the verge of opening her braiding shop in South Fulton, Georgia, when the City Council denied her permit just to shield a nearby salon from competition. Rather than let her American Dream fade away, Awa filed a lawsuit with IJ in August. Now, a judge has ruled that the city improperly denied her the permit and ordered that it issue her the permit.
Lawsuit Against Wilmington’s Predatory Impound Practices Ends After City Makes Reforms
Wilmington, Delaware’s towing and impound practices were among the most predatory in the nation, enabling private tow companies to profit off innocent drivers. A lawsuit from city residents and IJ, convinced the city to work with IJ to end a system that allowed companies to scrap and keep cars and replace it with a system that is a model of fairness. A district court has approved the settlement, bringing the lawsuit to an end.
After IJ convinced a judge to let Awa Diagne open her braiding shop in South Fulton, Georgia, Awa's daughter Ndeye sent the IJ legal team a kind note expressing their gratitude. We're sharing that note with you so that you can see what your support makes possible:
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for everything you’ve done for my family and me. You believed in us when it felt like the odds were stacked against us, and your dedication, expertise, and faith in our case gave us the strength to keep fighting. You are truly the best team we could have ever asked for, and words cannot fully express our gratitude. What you’ve accomplished for us is life-changing, and we’ll never forget how you stood by our side and made what seemed impossible, possible. You are not just our lawyers—you are now part of our family. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us and for making such a lasting impact on our lives. We will forever be grateful for you all.
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IJ Podcasts
Beyond the Brief: Creepy AI-powered Surveillance Cams in 5,000 Communities and Counting
Not long ago, if police wanted to know where someone drove, they would have to follow that person for days. But new technology allows the government to track everyone nearly all the time and to access that information without a warrant. As this technology spreads around the country, people are fighting back for the Fourth Amendment.
This special episode asks what state and local governments can do to better protect their citizens’ rights, particularly when it comes to achieving justice in the courts. Professor Joanna Schwartz of UCLA and Kasia Symborski Wolfkot of the Brennan Center dig into how a variety of laws and practices outside of Washington, D.C, affect our rights. Plus, there’s information on how citizens themselves can make a difference, including the often-forgotten opportunity to serve on a jury.
Your tax-deductible contribution helps IJ fight for Americans’ rights. IJ defends ordinary people who want to pursue their vision of the American Dream but find that the government is standing in their way. We stand with our clients no matter how long their cases take and we win nearly 75% of the time.
