Institute for Justice updates

Warrantless Surveillance

Associated Press: Border Patrol Is Monitoring US Drivers And Detaining Those With ‘Suspicious’ Travel Patterns

A new investigation from the Associated Press reveals for the first time how the U.S. Border Patrol is tracking millions of drivers using automatic license plate readers and then using local law enforcement to stop those drivers on pretexts—often for nothing more suspicious than visiting a town near the border. The AP broke this story thanks to IJ's lawsuit on behalf of an innocent motorist caught in this dragnet and the incriminating text messages we were able to recover from a deputy's phone.

Immunity & Accountability

Marion County Settles Lawsuit Over Unconstitutional Raid

Ruth Herbel won a seat on the city council of small-town Marion, Kansas, in 2019. A political conflict simmered with the mayor and his allies on one side and Ruth and the town paper on the other. With a bogus warrant in hand, police raided Ruth’s home and seized her cell phone. Even after the warrant was withdrawn, the chief and mayor continued to look for a way to prosecute Ruth.

Government officials cannot use criminal investigations to punish their political opponents, which is why Ruth filed her lawsuit. Now, IJ has reached an agreement that sees the sheriff's office apologize, admit to violating the Constitution, and pay a financial settlement.

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Property Rights

Lawsuit Challenges New York’s Law That Keeps Apartments Off The Market During A Housing Crisis

Tens of thousands of apartments sit vacant in New York City in the midst of a housing crisis. The reason is a law that requires certain rents be so low that building owners cannot afford to put the units on the market. Pashko and Tony Lulgjuraj are brothers who own and operate a building in New York City with vacant apartments—including a two-bedroom apartment that can only be rented for $700 a month despite needing thousands of dollars of repairs.

A group of New York City building owners partnered with IJ to file a lawsuit challenging the law’s application to those vacant apartments. The lawsuit doesn’t seek any changes to rules governing current tenants. Instead, the lawsuit seeks to free up apartments that would otherwise sit empty at a time when many people can’t find a home.

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WATCH: Innocent Iraq Vet Jailed for Three Days. "Shouldn’t Happen in America”

This Thanksgiving and every day, IJ is grateful for our supporters and our clients!

We are so grateful for our brave clients and generous supporters; you make the world a better place. Happy Thanksgiving from IJ!

IJ Podcasts

Short Circuit: Strict Liability for Civil Rights Violations

Matteo Godi of USC Law about his new article about how the Supreme Court has erroneously imposed state-of-mind requirements in civil rights litigation in sharp contrast to the original scheme that he contends the Reconstruction Congress designed. 

Listen now »

Short Circuit:  They Very Rarely Involve Murder

We’re joined by Reb Masel, a California lawyer who tries to keep the law fun while educating the public about how it works. She’s apparently pretty good at it as she has a zillion followers across various platforms.

Listen now »

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