James McQuaid is a Staff Attorney at the Liberty Justice Center. He litigates cases involving the Freedom of Information Act, economic liberty or constitutional rights.

James joined LJC in 2015, after graduating from the University of Notre Dame Law School earlier that year. He had previously interned for both LJC and its partner organization, the Illinois Policy Institute.

James is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Illinois.

James's Recent Cases

Free Speech

Kleinschmit v. University of Illinois Chicago

The Liberty Justice Center is suing the University of Illinois Chicago on behalf of a professor whose contract was terminated after he criticized the university’s racially discriminatory hiring programs.

Filed February 10, 2025

Free Speech

Illinois Policy Institute v. Flanagan

The Liberty Justice Center is challenging an Illinois law that would prohibit companies from holding mandatory meetings where any “religious or political matters” are discussed —effectively revoking free speech rights across the state.

Filed August 8, 2024

Free Speech

BASED Politics, Inc. v. Garland

The Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit to challenge the recently enacted federal TikTok ban for violating its users’ First Amendment right to free speech.

Filed June 6, 2024

Government Overreach

Collazo v. Illinois State Board of Elections

Victory for Voters' Rights: The Liberty Justice Center successfully sued the Illinois State Board of Elections for violating the constitutional right to vote by repealing a campaign law mid-election.

Filed May 10, 2024

Free Speech

Lackie v. Students United

The Liberty Justice Center and the Upper Midwest Law Center jointly filed a lawsuit to defend Minnesota college students’ First Amendment rights, challenging the requirement that all enrolled students pay fees to Students United, a private political organization that takes stances on controversial issues about which many students disagree.

Filed May 9, 2024

James's Amicus Briefs

B.B. v. Capistrano Unified School District

Filed July 22, 2024

Pitta v. Medeiros

Filed May 3, 2024

Project Veritas v. Schmidt

Filed April 23, 2024

Building Owners and Managers Association v. Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago

Filed March 4, 2024

Murthy v. Missouri

Filed February 8, 2024

Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board

Filed September 20, 2023

O’Handley v. Weber & Twitter

Filed July 12, 2023

College of the Ozarks v. Biden

Filed March 28, 2023

Biden v. Nebraska

Filed February 3, 2023

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

Filed February 22, 2022

James McQuaid

Staff Attorney, Liberty Justice Center

James McQuaid is a Staff Attorney at the Liberty Justice Center. He litigates cases involving the Freedom of Information Act, economic liberty or constitutional rights.

James is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Illinois.