Uncategorized Archives - Liberty Justice Center

LJC fights against forced union representation for Massachusetts teacher -LJC Blog

January 2023

On Thursday, January 12, Liberty Justice Center attorney Reilly Stephens argued against forcing teachers to accept union representation before the United States Court of Appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Massachusetts law forces teachers to accept a union as their “exclusive representative” in salary negotiations, grievance procedures and other...

LJC presents discriminatory nature of school ambassador program to Fourth Circuit judge panel-LJC Blog

December 2022

Students should never be fearful to speak their mind or share their opinions and thoughts with other students and teachers. Schools exist to foster free thought and encourage students to earnestly explore ideas and concepts without fear of discipline. And yet, many students in Loudoun...

National Employee Freedom Week: 6 Janus Rights Every Government Employee Should Know

August 2022

August 14-20, 2022 marks National Employee Freedom Week, a national celebration of government employees rights regarding union membership. Government workers’ First Amendment rights were restored in 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that union membership was optional and workers could...

Newly uncovered emails reveal how Biden Administration colluded with Big Tech to censor Americans

August 2022

Digital strategist Justin Hart and LJC's Daniel Suhr appeared on Fox News @ Night to discuss recent updates in Hart v. Facebook.

What are Janus Rights? 6 Things Every Government Employee Should Know About Their Rights

April 2022

Employees of local, state or federal government entities have "Janus Rights" - the right to decide whether they want to join a public union.

COVID-19 by The Numbers

February 2022

As COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths decrease, Chicago and Cook County continue to impose egregious restrictions on daily life. Requirements are in place for anyone over five years old to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to dine indoors, go inside gyms, or attend entertainment...

The Supreme Court and the Federal Vaccine Mandate: What You Should Know

January 2022

The Issue: Why is the Supreme Court hearing challenges to the federal vaccine mandate? In September, President Biden announced that the federal government would require all Americans who work for private companies with 100 or more employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine mandate or face...

Supreme Court Challenge to Biden’s Vaccine Mandate: Media Resources

January 2022

Who is Brandon Trosclair Brandon Trosclair is a hardworking Louisiana native, husband, and father of two who’s involved in his community. A second generation supermarket owner who employs several hundred people, Trosclair challenged the OSHA mandate to stop the Biden Administration from imposing an illegal...

Biden OSHA vaccine mandate case belongs in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

November 2021

On Nov. 23, 2021, attorneys for a Louisiana business owner and Texas workers filed a Motion to Transfer the legal challenge to stop the Biden Administration’s illegal vaccine mandate back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Louisiana business owner, Brandon Trosclair...

Americans Have a Right to Challenge Biden’s Vaccine Mandate

September 2021

The Issue At a Glance: The Federal Vaccine Mandate is Illegal On September 9, 2021, the Biden Administration announced a federal vaccine mandate that impacts millions of Americans—federal contractors and employees at private companies that employ more than 100 workers must be vaccinated or test...

Liberty Justice Center protects free speech rights of quarantined students

September 2021

Manhattan School District 114 has agreed to revise their "Parent Contract for Quarantined Student Livestreaming" to ensure that the free speech rights of parents and students are respected and protected.

Government works with social media to censor Americans

September 2021

Data analyst sues Facebook, Twitter, President On July 13, 2021, Justin Hart posted a simple, science-based graphic to his Facebook page entitled, “Masking Children is Impractical and Not Backed by Research or Real World Data.” The next day, Hart received a message from Facebook stating...

New Government Workers: Were You Informed of Your Rights?

August 2021

If you work for a local, state or federal government employer, you have the right to decide whether you want to join a union at your workplace thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. If you decide union membership isn’t for...

Fox13 News: Some local parents and private schools defend Tennessee’s controversial school voucher program

February 2020

Two Memphis parents and two private schools filed a motion challenging a recent lawsuit filed against the state over the program.

Capital Research Center: Workers Seeking Retroactive Refunds

February 2020

Some proponents of the right-to-work movement now argue in court that laws requiring government workers to either join a union or pay “fair-share” fees as nonmembers were illegal from the start.

The Northwoods River News: Group suing Evers says interview contradicts his legal arguments

January 2020

According to the Liberty Justice Center, while Evers’ attorneys have defended their restrictions on the MacIver reporters in court, Evers himself made statements recently on FOX11 that were contrary to those arguments.

The John Muir Show: LJC discusses Gov. Tony Evers’ lack of transparency

January 2020

Daniel Suhr of the Liberty Justice Center appeared on The John Muir Show to discuss his representation of the Wisconsin MacIver Institute in their lawsuit against Wisconsin governor Tony Evers’ lack of transparency. Hear the full interview.

The Center Square: Gov. Evers’ comments contradict his own attorneys in reporter-restriction lawsuit

January 2020

This article was written by Bruce Walker and originally appeared in The Center Square on Jan 10, 2020. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers granted an interview to Fox 11 on Sunday in which he stated the MacIver News Service is granted equal access to his administration’s...

FOX 11 Investigates ‘freedom of the press’ lawsuit facing Gov. Evers

January 2020

This article first appeared January 5, 2020 on Fox 11 News. MADISON (WLUK) — Gov. Tony Evers faces more than just Republicans legislators with a different agenda. A journalist at one conservative think tank in Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against Evers this past year for...

Full Measure interview: Forced to pay

December 2019

The federal class-action lawsuit, Mattos v. AFSCME Council 3, seeks to recoup “agency” fees paid by Maryland state employees before the US Supreme Court ruled the mandatory fees were unconstitutional. This interview first appeared December 15, 2019 on Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson A Supreme Court decision...

Chicago Tribune: Illinois lawmakers try to skirt the impact of Janus. Why Gov. Pritzker should say no.

November 2019

This editorial first appeared November 25, 2019 in the Chicago Tribune. Since June 27, 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court limited the ability of public employees unions to collect mandatory dues, Mark Janus has been traveling the country on an information campaign. Janus is the Springfield plaintiff who...

ABC 27: State workers sue union over ‘fair share’ fees

November 2019

Filed on behalf of Pennsylvania state employees, the federal class-action lawsuit, Schaszberger v. AFSCME Council 13, demands a refund of the nonmember fees employees. These fees were ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Janus v. AFSCME in June 2018. This article first appeared...

WITF Public Radio: Seven Pa. workers want their union dues back

November 2019

CBS 21: Lawsuit: PA union owes government workers refund of ‘illegal’ dues

Bloomberg Law: New York Sued for Blocking Government Worker ZIP Codes

October 2019

A public interest law firm is suing New York state, alleging an executive order issued following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision prevents government employees from learning about their union rights. The Liberty Justice Center filed a petition this week in the New York Supreme Court in...

Baltimore Sun: Maryland state employees file lawsuit against AFSCME to recoup union fees that Supreme Court found illegal

September 2019

A group of Maryland state employees has filed a federal lawsuit against their labor union to recoup union fees the U.S. Supreme Court found to be illegal in a ruling last year. In a class-action lawsuit filed Wednesday in Baltimore against the American Federation of...

VIDEO: If you paid money to a government union, you may be entitled to your money back

May 2019

For decades, teachers, first responders, social workers and other government employees across the U.S. were forced to give part of every paycheck to a government union even if they weren’t union members. These payroll deductions are called “fair share” fees, or “agency fees.” In June...

Free Beacon: Employee sues Illinois school district, union over dues

May 2019

May 5, 2019 — Cole Lauterbach, Watchdog.org A school employee in Illinois filed a federal lawsuit against a local school district and the state’s largest public sector union, claiming both refused to stop deducting union dues from her paycheck months after she left the union....

MyNewsLA.com: University of California Employees Sue Over Union Dues

March 2019

Two University of California employees filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles, alleging union dues were illegally deducted from their paychecks despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that public workers are not required to pay fees to the unions representing them, it was announced Thursday....

Fox News: California workers sue union for holding them ‘against their will,’ despite landmark ruling

The article by Gregg Re was published March 28, 2019 on foxnews.com. Two University of California system employees claim they are effectively being held “against their will” and forced to pay monthly union dues, despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling last summer barring public-sector unions from requiring nonmembers to...

Victory for free speech, Chicago passes ordinance allowing commercial advertising in rideshare vehicles

November 2018

PRESS RELEASE from the LIBERTY JUSTICE CENTER and LEGALRIDESHARE, LLC MEDIA CONTACTS: Kristen Williamson [email protected] (773) 809-4403 Bryant Greening [email protected] CHICAGO (Nov. 29, 2018) – The City of Chicago passed an amendment to allow commercial advertising in and on rideshare vehicles as part of its 2019 Revenue Ordinance....

Janus Attorneys Recognized for Policy Impact of Supreme Court Win

October 2018

The Liberty Justice Center was recognized this morning for its U.S. Supreme Court victory in the landmark case Janus v. AFSCME at the State Policy Network 26th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Liberty Justice Center threatens to sue governments that obstruct the Janus decision

September 2018

The good news: The U.S. Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking decision in favor of workers’ rights when it ruled that no government worker can be forced to pay a government union as a condition of working in public service. In the months since the ruling,...

The Liberty Justice Center Featured in the Wall Street Journal: Resisting the Supreme Court

September 2018

UNIONS AND POLITICIANS ARE CIRCUMVENTING THE JANUS DECISION. This article by The Editorial Board was published September 17, 2018 on wsj.com. Do unions believe in the rule of law? That’s an urgent question as unions and their political friends try to circumvent the Supreme Court’s...

Event: Debating the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program

August 2018

We invite you to join the Liberty Justice Center and Union League Club of Chicago’s Public Affairs Committee for breakfast on Aug. 14 as we host a debate about the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship program. 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018Union League...

WATCH: Meet the Liberty Justice Center | Janus v. AFSCME

June 2018

Six things to know about Janus v. AFSCME

June 2018

Here are six things you should know about Janus v. AFSCME and the impact it has had on government workers in the U.S. What is Janus v. AFSCME about? Janus v. AFSCME isn’t about whether unions are good or bad. This case is about First...

Illinois Supreme Court ruling a victory for government transparency

May 2018

The Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling that the government can’t rely on new changes in the law to retroactively justify an unlawful denial of a FOIA request is an important step toward giving Illinois taxpayers the full, consistent governmental transparency to which they’re entitled.

Cooke v. Illinois State Board of Elections

May 2018

BREAKING: Appellate Court orders Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino back to Elections Board for hearing on alleged illegal campaign payments Media contact: Diana Rickert 773-809-4403 SPRINGFIELD (May 22, 2018) – Today a state appellate court ruled that the Illinois Board of Elections must revisit allegations...

Worker Files Opening Brief in Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court Case Seeking to Strike Down Forced Union Fees

November 2017

Worker Advocate: It is time for the Court to recognize that the First Amendment protects public employees from being forced to subsidize union speech Washington, DC (November 29, 2017) – Today, attorneys for Illinois public servant Mark Janus filed the first merits brief in the Supreme...

Meet Mark Janus, the man who could end forced union fees for government workers

September 2017

Mark Janus learned about public service from a young age, growing up as a Boy Scout in Springfield, Illinois. He eventually became an Eagle Scout. And he’s passed along his knowledge to young men and women from the state’s capital while leading Scouting trips to...

City profits from crackdown on New Year’s drink specials

December 2014

According to Illinois’ Happy Hour Law, no business may serve an unlimited number of drinks during a fixed period of time to the public at large.

Chicago cracks down on unregulated eating

December 2014

Underground dining is an attractive option for entrepreneurs who want the flexibility to do what they love without the commitment of running a restaurant full time.

Illinois Supreme Court dismisses challenge to red-light cameras

December 2014

This means a lower appellate court’s decision that upheld the red-light program as constitutional will stand.

Police body cameras, ban on chokeholds may be coming to Chicago soon

December 2014

A pilot police-body-camera program is slated to start in Chicago by early 2015.

Downers Grove sign ordinance harms local business

December 2014

Should a local government be allowed to ruin a long-existing business if it decides it doesn’t like a sign that’s been on the business’s property for decades?

Illinois General Assembly revives recording ban

December 2014

Under the new bill, a citizen could rarely be sure whether recording any given conversation without permission is legal.

It’s time for taxpayers to stop paying for the Ex-Im Bank

November 2014

Tax dollars are meant to pay for public goods that everyone uses and that free-riders will enjoy the benefits from if not compelled to pay.

Illinois among states with highest income-tax burden on the poor

November 2014

And what are the poor getting in return for their tax dollars? Failing schools, crumbling infrastructure rated as mediocre at best, and a sluggish economy.

Court: state employees’ constitutional rights are stronger than yours

November 2014

Today’s decision on pension rights essentially says that government employees’ pension rights get stronger protection than any other constitutional right we have.

Criminal justice accountability depends on transparency

November 2014

Last month, the Better Government Association sued CPD over its refusal to comply with requests made under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act

Illinois general assembly won’t override veto of ridesharing bill

State legislators aren’t done trying to meddle in this market

Misguided Uber restrictions are back from the dead

November 2014

Do the taxi lobby’s arguments hold up? Not when you look at the record of taxi companies.

Gas stations sue Chicago over arbitrary “flavored tobacco” restrictions

November 2014

The policy unfairly damages the bottom lines of the impacted gas stations

Should voting-booth selfies be a crime?

November 2014

Seemingly, no one’s been arrested for this trivial “offense” – at least not yet.

Illinois voters should look before they leap on ‘victims’ rights’ amendment

November 2014

The Illinois Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights Amendment would give crime victims some new rights

Three small changes for a better food-truck policy

November 2014

Modest policy changes would ease the regulatory burden on food trucks

Chicago taxi reforms don’t make up for lack of business freedom

October 2014

Many drivers had been pushing the city government, which controls how much taxis can charge for rides, for a fare increase

School Districts Should Stop Using Tax Dollars to Support Ballot Measures

October 2014

Should a school district be allowed to use your tax dollars to promote a ballot measure that would raise sales taxes?

“Last Night Tonight” explains how police can steal your property

October 2014

On Sunday, the HBO comedy news program “Last Night Tonight with John Oliver” took a biting yet humorous look at civil asset forfeiture – a procedure that allows police in Illinois and other states to take your property without ever convicting or even charging you...

Months after new regulations imposed, pedicabs struggle

October 2014

Before the ordinance, it was estimated that Chicago had as many as 400 pedicabs operating throughout the city.

Judge OKs Peoria SWAT raid over parody Twitter account

October 2014

Back in March, Jon Daniel of Peoria created the Twitter account “@peoriamayor” from which he sent out a variety of crude tweets

Body cameras for police a win for citizens, officers and taxpayers

September 2014

Considering how much taxpayers currently put out to litigate and settle police-misconduct cases, we should also support it as an effective cost-saving measure

Bold school: Northeastern Illinois University moves to seize private property in North Park

September 2014

NEIU has filed a lawsuit to forcibly acquire several small businesses and homes, including a Chinese restaurant, dentist’s office, hair salon and more.

Rockford set to seize property for crony deal

September 2014

The Rockford City Council said it may seize the three properties in order to allow a private developer to build a parking lot

D.C. court to rehear Halbig ObamaCare decision

September 2014

The decision to rehear the Halbig case means that the court’s original decision is vacated

Tattoo controversy shows how zoning regulation harms small-business growth

September 2014

Is this a challenge a business owner should have to face when the property owner already approves of the use?

Food-cart ban harms immigrants, new entrepreneurs

August 2014

It’s Illegal to sell any prepared foods from a street cart in Chicago

Gov. Quinn vetoes Uber bill

August 2014

The veto is good news for ridesharing consumers and drivers

Liquor license moratoriums highlight unchecked power of Chicago aldermen

August 2014

In Chicago, basic property rights take a back seat to arbitrary regulation and a system of aldermanic privilege

Appellate court rules Cook County can’t tax goods bought outside the county

August 2014

The county may be in the midst of a budget crisis, but that doesn’t trump residents’ right to buy goods or services wherever they please

Ethanol mandate tries to create demand where there is none

July 2014

Earlier this week, the Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee considered an ordinance that would mandate all gas stations in the city to carry E15, a fuel consisting of 15 percent ethanol.

To catch up with Uber, Chicago taxi group proposes … higher fares?

July 2014

Hiking prices doesn’t seem like a good way to save an industry that is already losing out to lower-priced competitors

Chicago State University sued for violating First Amendment rights

July 2014

Since at least last year, CSU’s administration has been in open conflict with faculty members who contribute to “CSU Faculty Voice"

Illinois should strive for better marks on hair-braiding regulations

July 2014

A particularly good example of how occupational licensing rules hurt the worst off among us

Illinois has a cow over raw milk

July 2014

Raw milk sales have only been growing more popular in recent years, and for many customers, drinking raw milk has become a way of life

Liquor license red tape favors the politically connected

July 2014

One shouldn’t need to support any politician for the right to effectively operate a business

End the crony slush fund that is the Ex-Im Bank

July 2014

Ending the Ex-Im Bank should be an issue of bipartisan agreement

Will Pat Quinn let Uber create 425 new jobs in Chicago?

July 2014

Some businesses tell the state government that they will only create jobs in Illinois if the state gives them a handout. But not Uber

Occupational licensing overkill in Illinois

July 2014

Nearly two in five workers in the U.S. need government permission just to do their jobs

Minnesota just passed civil asset forfeiture reform; here’s why Illinois should be next

June 2014

Under state and federal civil asset forfeiture laws, police can take property they suspect has somehow been involved with criminal activity

Are unions the answer to Chicago taxi drivers’ problems?

June 2014

Unions are seeking to mobilize Chicago cab drivers

Crony community development organization thinks ‘Mike’s’ is ‘too ghetto’

June 2014

Why would a neighborhood group push for these rules?

Illinois legislators try to resurrect unconstitutional ‘Amazon tax’

June 2014

The tax required Amazon and any other online retailer with affiliates in Illinois to collect a “use tax” for all sales to Illinois customers

Why Illinois doesn’t need mandatory labeling for genetically modified food

While greater consumer choices are desirable, is forced labeling best way to promote this end?

Illinois House defeats soda tax

May 2014

The tax would have added $2.88 to the cost of a case of soft drinks

‘Cupcake girl’ saved from crushing regulation

May 2014

House Bill 5354 creates a license to sell food prepared in home kitchens

Misguided push to ban Google Glass continues

May 2014

A ban on Google Glass presents a problem for law enforcement since there’s no way to tell it’s active before pulling a driver over

Protected: Courts can strike down Madigan’s unconstitutional budget

May 2014

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Rideshare drivers rally to defend their jobs

May 2014

The latest version of the bill would still harm the drivers who make a living by providing ridesharing services

Unintended consequences of a plastic bag ban

May 2014

Not only does the ban violate the rights of businesses and consumers to choose how to transport their goods, but there are also reasons why this ban might not even be good for Chicagoans’ health

Chicago City Council shows deep hypocrisy in passing pedicab ordinance

May 2014

The most heavily criticized provision of the law would ban pedicabs from Michigan Avenue and State Street between Congress ave and Oak Street at all times, and throughout the Loop during rush hour

Two major problems with proposed Chicago pedicab regulations

April 2014

Provisions are unnecessarily harmful to the pedicab market and consumer choice

Update: The taxi cartel’s attacks on ridesharing in Chicago

April 2014

When the taxi lobby turned to the Illinois General Assembly for help, they proposed a ridesharing bill full of provisions that would harm consumers and ridesharing drivers for no reason

Dick Durbin’s ‘candy-flavored’ addiction

April 2014

Sen. Dick Durbin, long known for his anti-smoking campaigns, released a new report Monday alleging that e-cigarette companies target youth smokers, and then proposing a new set of Food and Drug Administration regulations for the products. Durbin’s 40-page report urges a slew of restrictions on e-cigarette marketing...

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