news Archives - Liberty Justice Center

UPDATE: Illinois Governor Backs Down, Reinstates Chicago Radio Host Previously Banned From COVID Briefings

Veteran Chicago journalist Amy Jacobson and the news station she reports for, Salem Media, filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker after he announced Jacobson was no longer allowed at his media briefings. The lawsuit, Salem Media of Illinois, LLC v. Pritzker, was...

Illinois GOP Sues Gov. Pritzker Over Ban on Large Gatherings

Illinois Republican Party v. Pritzker challenges Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker’s ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. The lawsuit highlights the arbitrary nature of the Executive Order as some groups can gather while other groups face restrictions. The lawsuit petitions the court to allow...

Daniel Suhr discusses Illinois Republicans suing Gov. Pritzker over gathering ban on WGN

The Illinois Republican Party and three local party committees sued Gov. Pritzker over his executive order banning group gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Gov. Pritkzer has allowed groups he favors to gather and protest without consequence, other political activities are halted. Daniel Suhr, senior...

GOP sues Pritzker seeking exemption from 10-person limit

Illinois Republican Party sues Dem governor Pritzker over right to assemble during coronavirus lockdowns

State GOP: Ban on political gatherings violates free speech

Illinois GOP Sue Over State’s Ten-Person Gathering Cap

Calling Gov. J.B. Pritzker an ‘unaccountable king,’ Illinois GOP sues over 10-person gathering limit

Illinois Republican Party sues Pritzker over right for political groups to assemble during pandemic

U.S. Supreme Court schedules conference in followup to landmark Janus case

In a major victory for First Amendment rights, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 27, 2018 in Janus v. AFSCME that non-union government workers cannot be required to pay union fees as a condition of working in public service. This landmark case restores the First...

Feder: WIND’s Amy Jacobson suing Pritzker over ban from media briefings

It’s On: Salem Sues Pritzker For Banning Radio Host That Broke Story On Pritzker Family’s Travels

‘Principle of it’: Mark Janus fights to get union dues back after Supreme Court win

The excerpt below is from an article by James Varney that appeared May 31, 2020, on The Washington Times. The 2018 ruling known simply as Janus freed nonunion public employees from being forced to pay union dues, which the unions called “fees.” Mr. Janus...

Reporter sues Pritzker in federal court to gain access to news briefings

Townhall: Salem Media Files Lawsuit Against Illinois Governor for Barring Radio Host from COVID Press Briefings

'"I think they'd been looking for an excuse to get rid of me...All I want is to get back back in that press room. I've been asking questions in this town since 1996,' she says."

Chicago Tribune: South Suburban College public safety workers who opted out of union sue for past dues, right to bargain independently

In Presta v. Cook County Community College Teachers Union the Liberty Justice Center represents five South Suburban College public safety officers. The officers filed a federal lawsuit after the college and their union refused to stop deducting money from their paychecks for union dues. The...

Chalkbeat: Tennessee Asks State Supreme Court to Take Over School Voucher Case in Race to Launch this Year

The state attorney general on Thursday asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to step in and lift orders by two lower courts that prevent the state from moving forward with its education savings account program. The state filed several motions in its race to launch the...

AP: Tennessee Voucher Program Continues to be Blocked

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee won’t be able to implement a contentious school voucher program while the state continues to fight back constitutional challenges over the law that would allow parents to use public tax dollars on private school tuition, according to a ruling issued...

The Wall Street Journal: Wisconsin Governor Urges Social Distancing After Court Blocks Statewide Lockdown

“This case and increasingly other cases are showing courts’ willingness to question executive claims of authority during this pandemic,” said Daniel Suhr, a Wisconsin-based attorney for the Liberty Justice Center, a libertarian-leaning public-interest law firm.

WSJ: Wisconsin Governor Urges Social Distancing After Court Blocks Statewide Lockdown

Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature filed suit in April to temporarily block the lockdown. Agreeing with lawmakers, the divided court decided to strike down the order entirely, calling it well-intentioned but faultily executed. Wednesday’s ruling in Wisconsin follows other recent, more limited, court decisions reining in the...

The Center Square: Public Employees Sue Unions for $19 Million in Post-Janus Case

(The Center Square) – Two of Minnesota’s public sector unions received notice Monday they were being sued by employees in a class action alleging they were forced to unconstitutionally pay membership dues. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 and...

NRTW: Two New Class Action Lawsuits in Minnesota Seek Nearly $19 Million in Returned Union Fees

MINNEAPOLIS (May 11, 2020) – Today, six Minnesota state employees sued two of the state’s largest government unions for an estimated recovery of $19 million in union fees paid by state and local employees. The two class action lawsuits claim that because the U.S. Supreme...

The Center Square: Court Rules in Favor of Law Firm Challenging Cuomo’s Executive Order Withholding Public Employee Information

(The Center Square) – A public interest law firm linked to the high-profile Janus v. ASCME case received another recent favorable ruling in a lawsuit concerning the accessibility of public employee information in New York. In November, the Liberty Justice Center filed the lawsuit, Suhr v....

WVLT 8: In Reversal, Lee Says State No Longer Implementing Vouchers

Defendants who have intervened in the lawsuits include voucher advocates, such as the Liberty Justice Center, the Institute for Justice and the Beacon Center of Tennessee – who also are representing parents in favor of the ESA program. All parties involved in the legal battle...

WMC 5: Judge Strikes Down School Voucher Law, Declaring it Unconstitutional

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – A judge delivered a major blow to Tennessee’s school voucher law, declaring it unconstitutional. Opponents of the law hailed the ruling as a major victory, while supporters vowed to continue fighting for it. The Education Savings Account Act (ESA), which was...

WMC 5: Judge Strikes Down School Voucher Law, Declaring It Unconstitutional

Fox 17: Nonprofit Appealing Judge’s Ruling that Tennessee’s Voucher Law is Unconstitutional

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A nonprofit is appealing a judges ruling that Tennessee’s school voucher law is unconstitutional. Davidson County Chancellor Anne C. Martin struck down state’s private school voucher law, known as the Education Savings Account (ESA) Pilot Program, Monday night, citing it violates...

Fox 17: Nonprofit Appealing Judge’s Ruling that Tennessee’s Voucher Law is Unconstitutional

Antelope Valley Press: Tennessee Voucher Program Arguments Weighed by Judge

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee judge on Wednesday weighed a wide range of arguments surrounding the legal battle over the state’s much-debated school voucher program, noting that she plans on making a decision soon to ensure parents have enough time to plan ahead for the...

Nashville Post: Cities, State Dig In Over Vouchers

Shelby and Davidson counties’ effort to overturn Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account program continued Wednesday as a Nashville judge considered various requests to rule or dismiss the lawsuit. Under the law passed last year by the Republican-led House and Senate, qualifying students in Nashville...

Penn Live: Non-union Pa. state government worker files class-action lawsuit demanding refund of union fees

A state Department of Human Services income maintenance supervisor filed a federal class action lawsuit against a large state government employee union seeking to reclaim the union fees she and more than 2,000 other non-union commonwealth social service employees were forced to pay.

Chicago Tribune: Teacher Sues Waukegan District 60, Teachers Union, Argues She Wasn’t Informed of First Amendment Rights under Janus

The legal clinic behind the Supreme Court case that found the requirement that public employees pay “fair share” union dues violated their First Amendment speech rights, has filed another lawsuit on behalf of a Waukegan District 60 teacher. The lawsuit, filed by Liberty Justice Center...

The Center Square: Another Union Lawsuit Filed in Illinois over First, Fourteenth Amendments, Janus

(The Center Square) – An Illinois teacher is filing suit against a school district and union claiming her rights are being violated under the provisions of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 landmark ruling in Janus v AFSCME. Ariadna Ramon Baro, a visiting teacher at Waukegan High School...

Ballotpedia.org: Federal Judge Strikes Down New Jersey Donor Disclosure Law

On March 11, Judge Brian R. Martinotti, of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, signed orders permanently barring New Jersey from enforcing a state law requiring select nonprofits to disclose identifying information about their donors. Multiple organizations challenged the law...

The Center Square: Alaska Workers Sue State, Union Over Alleged Janus Violation

(The Center Square) – Two state employees filed a federal lawsuit against the Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52 and Kelly Tshibaka, in her official capacity as Commissioner of Administration for the state of Alaska, alleging they violated the provisions established by the Supreme Court Janus...

Washington Times: After Janus Ruling, Worker Asks Supreme Court for Return of Paid Union Dues

The Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus decision was a landmark in labor law, but now the namesake in the case would like the justices to go further. The high court ruled in Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that public-sector employees cannot...

Must Read Alaska: State Workers Sue Union over Forced Union Dues

Two Alaska state employees filed a lawsuit against the State of Alaska and the Alaska State Employees Association today for forcing them to pay union dues against their will. According to the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court ruling, union dues cannot be deducted from state employees’ paychecks...

SCOTUSblog: Wednesday Round-Up

At The Hill (via How Appealing), Harper Neidig reports that Mark Janus, “[a]n anti-union advocate who won a landmark Supreme Court case two years ago[,] is now asking the court to order a public sector labor group to pay back the union dues that it...

Fox News: Janus, Whose Case Ended Mandatory Union Fees, Wants Supreme Court’s Help Getting Money Back

The plaintiff whose 2018 case led to a Supreme Court ruling that mandatory public union agency fees for nonmembers were unconstitutional is now asking the high court to force the union that represented him to return a portion of the money it collected before that decision. In this...

Law 360: Union Foe Janus Wants High Court Return in Fee Dispute

The ex-Illinois state worker who persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to let public-sector workers refuse to fund their unions urged the high court Monday to review a ruling that his union doesn’t have to return the possibly millions of dollars in fees it collected over...

Bloomberg Law: Janus Wants Round Two at the Supreme Court on Union Fees

High court forbid mandatory fees in 2018 Unions have thus far won in fee refund cases A former Illinois government worker asked the U.S. Supreme Court to force a union to refund the money he paid in mandatory fees prior to the high court’s...

Patch: Judge Pledges To Move Swiftly On TN Education Voucher Lawsuit

A Nashville judge promised Friday to move expeditiously in the widening court battle over Tennessee’s new education savings account law as the state works to launch the program for the upcoming school year. Chancellor Anne C. Martin also indicated that she likely will allow three...

WVLT 8: Judge: School Choice Advocates Can Intervene in Voucher Case

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee judge on Friday agreed to allow school choice advocates to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the legality of the state’s school voucher program. That means the Liberty Justice Center, the Institute for Justice and the Beacon Center of Tennessee...

Chicago Tribune: Commentary: While Missouri Seeks to Free Public Employees, Illinois Traps Them with Pro-Union Law

What’s the best way to protect government workers? Don’t ask Illinois. Late last year, the Land of Lincoln passed a law that severely limits government workers’ freedom. It restricts their ability to opt out of union membership, despite clear guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court....

National Review: Coming for the lawyers

(Feb. 20, 2020) Charles Dickens recited a familiar complaint about lawyers in Bleak House when he wrote, “The one great principle of the English law is to make business for itself.”

The Daily Signal: After Years of Paying Illegal Union Fees, Government Workers Seek Refunds

After successfully leading a nationwide charge against government-sanctioned union mandates, Mark Janus could end up back before the Supreme Court. In a continuation of his legal case, the former child support specialist for the Illinois government asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to...

Santa Fe New Mexican: Groups sue Toulouse Oliver over donor disclosure

The Albuquerque-based Rio Grande Foundation and Illinois Opportunity Project argue that a new state law requiring stricter financial disclosure requirements for political issue advertisements is unconstitutional.

Boston Globe: Both sides brandish First Amendment in battle over Rhode Island donor disclosure law

Both sides enlist the First Amendment to make their case. Both sides talk about freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas. But the two sides draw diametrically opposed conclusions.

The Center Square: Lawsuit seeks return of ‘fair-share’ fees paid by Pennsylvania state workers who never joined unions

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...

Patriot-News: Non-union Pa. state workers file class-action lawsuit to recoup money paid to AFSCME 13

New York Law Journal: Law Firm That Won Janus Case Suing for Access to State Workers’ ZIP Codes

The law firm that brought the landmark case Janus v. AFSCME before the U.S. Supreme Court last year sued Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday over an executive order he signed to block union foes from seeking the contact information of state employees.

Star Tribune: Union pressured Inver Hills college clerk to join, lawsuit says

Sue Halloran is a community college employee in Minnesota who faced pressure to join AFSCME Council 5 with misleading information about union membership. She has filed a federal lawsuit for this violation of her First Amendment rights with the help of attorneys from the Liberty Justice...

Cook County Record: Appeals court to decide if unions should refund illegal fees

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it is unconstitutional to require non-union state workers in Illinois to pay "fair share" fees to a union, but a Chicago federal appeals panel is considering whether a union must refund millions of dollars in fees already collected.

Law360: Janus seeks refund of fair share fees that were declared illegal

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that mandatory government union fees are illegal. Mark Janus is arguing AFSCME should refund the illegal dues he was forced to pay before the decision.

Law 360: Chicago overstepping with streaming tax, users Tell Ill. court

(Sept. 19, 2019) The city of Chicago’s amusement tax on streaming services like Netflix is an unconstitutional overreach of its authority, a state appellate panel heard Thursday in a first-of-its-kind test of a city's streaming tax.

CBS Local 21: Lawsuit – Pennsylvania workers forced to pay union dues

This article first appeared September 6, 2019 on local21news.com. HARRISBURG, Pa. — A class-action lawsuit filed in Harrisburg federal court is seeking as much as $1 million for Pennsylvania social service employees. The worker at the center of this lawsuit is a York County woman named...

The Hill: California workers have constitutional rights — even if unions think they don’t matter

This article first appeared September 9, 2019 on The Hill. Years ago, when Mike Jackson and Tory Smith started working in the Parking Department at the University of California, San Diego, they assumed they were required to join the public employees’ union. Not that it made...

Fox45 News: Federal lawsuit claims MD state workers were forced to pay union fees, demands refund

A Federal lawsuit is seeking a refund of nearly $7 million on behalf of state workers in Maryland who claim they were forced to pay Union fees as a condition of employment.

Herald Mail Media: Washington County man lead plaintiff in union-fee lawsuit against AFSCME

A Washington County man is leading a class-action lawsuit which aims to return roughly $7 million in union fees Maryland state employees were forced to pay.

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

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 article originally appeared September 4, 2019, on Baltimore Sun. A group of Maryland state employees has...

Washington Times: Maryland govt. workers sue AFSCME union, demand refunds of illegally collected dues

Nineteen public sector employees in Maryland filed a class action against their labor union this week, demanding a refund for dues they were forced to pay before the Supreme Court outlawed the mandatory fees last year.

Maryland Matters: Aided by Conservative Legal Groups, State Workers Sue to Recoup Union Dues

A group of state government workers on Wednesday sued a public employee union, saying the union improperly collected dues from them even though they never became members.

Washington Examiner: Maryland state workers sue union, alleging it defied Janus ruling and coerced dues

19 Maryland state employees have filed a class action suit against their union, AFSCME Council 3, seeking $7 million in dues they claim was illegally taken from them.

KULR8 News: Conservative group challenging Montana campaign order

LIberty Justice Center is challenging an executive order that requires organizations in Montana that receive large state contracts to report political contributions that exceed $2,500, even if those disclosures aren't required under federal election laws.

Montana Public Radio: Free Market Group Sues Bullock Over ‘Dark Money’ Rule

The lawsuit announced Wednesday asks a federal judge to strike down Montana’s nearly year-old policy that requires certain businesses seeking contracts with the state to disclose donors and spending on elections.

Helena Independent Record: Group files challenge to Bullock’s executive order on ‘dark money’ and state contracts

One of the hallmark messages of Montana Gov. Steve Bullock's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination is the subject of a lawsuit filed by the Liberty Justice Center this week in U.S. federal court in Helena.

The Daily Signal: Democrat Governor Excludes Conservative News Service From Media List

This article was published by The Daily Signal on Aug. 22, 2019. It discusses the MacIver Institute v. Evers case filed by the Liberty Justice Center on August 6, 2019. When two reporters showed up at the Wisconsin governor’s office in February for a press briefing on...

Fox News: Wisconsin governor sued for barring conservative journalists from briefing

A conservative think tank in Wisconsin is suing the state’s governor, Tony Evers, amid allegations that his administration has denied journalists working for the group’s new service access to a budget press briefing and refused to add its reporters to the governor’s press list.

The Cap Times: Conservative MacIver Institute files federal lawsuit against Tony Evers over press access

This article was written by Briana Reilly and originally appeared in The Cap Times on Aug 7, 2019. The conservative MacIver Institute has filed a lawsuit against Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, alleging his office has excluded the outlet from media events. The suit, filed in federal...

Journal Sentinel: Conservative group sues Tony Evers in federal court over media access

This article was written by Molly Beck and originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Aug 7, 2019. MADISON – A conservative group alleges Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has violated its writers’ rights to free speech and equal access by not notifying them about the...

AP News: Conservative think tank sues Wisconsin’s Evers over access

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A conservative think tank has filed a federal lawsuit against Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, alleging he violated the First Amendment rights of staff members who were denied access to a press briefing and kept off an advisory list sent to...

Fox News: Special ed teacher suing to leave California union

May 7 — A California educator is battling a state teachers’ union over his problems leaving the organization, in what his attorneys say could be a precedent-setting legal case that ultimately forces labor unions across the country to reimburse billions in back dues to their members. Tommy Few, a special...

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Kent State custodians sue to stop university from withholding union dues from paychecks

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Three Kent State University workers sued the university and a labor union Monday, saying the university continues to deduct dues from their paychecks even though they withdrew from the labor organization following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. Annamarie Hannay, Adda...

Fox News: Sweeping class-action lawsuit could force unions nationwide to refund millions in fees

May 2, 2019 — A massive class-action lawsuit filed in Illinois on Wednesday could force unions to refund hundreds of millions of dollars in agency fees paid by thousands of workers nationwide prior to the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling last year in Janus v. AFSCME. That June 2018 decision barred public-sector...

Chicago Tribune: State workers ask to be repaid for past “fair share” fees

May 1, 2019 — Continuing a fight against public employee unions initially spearheaded by former Gov. Bruce Rauner, nine state workers who say they have opted out of union membership are asking to be repaid for past “fair share” fees in a proposed class-action lawsuit....

Cleveland.com: Kent State custodians sue to stop university from withholding union dues from paychecks

April 30, 2019 — Three Kent State University workers sued the university and a labor union Monday, saying the university continues to deduct dues from their paychecks even though they withdrew from the labor organization following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. Annamarie Hannay,...

The Neighbor: Moline-Coal Valley School District employee sues over union dues deductions

April 30, 2019 — An employee of the Moline-Coal Valley School District has filed a federal lawsuit against the 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. Susan...

Philadelphia Inquirer: Even after Janus ruling, issues with organized labor persist

This op-ed was published on April 18, 2019, in the Philadelphia Inquirer and was written by Shalea Oliver, plaintiff in the Liberty Justice Center’s case Oliver v. SEIU. The original article can be found here. I recently sued my union. It’s not something I ever...

The News-Gazette: Illinois man at heart of Supreme Court case continues fight

April 16, 2019 — Public employees across the country no longer are being forced to pay fees to unions they don’t support. They can thank Illinois’ Mark Janus and others like him for their newfound freedom. Janus was a former child support specialist for the...

Press Release: Mark Janus Asks Appeals Court to Order Refund of Forced Union Fees Outlawed by U.S. Supreme Court

Janus v. AFSCME case continues after union officials refuse to return forced fees ruled unconstitutional in landmark decision

Philadelphia Inquirer: Pennsylvania is hub for post-Janus lawsuits

Shalea Oliver had been trying to leave her union for more than a year when she found a website offering help. It had a template resignation letter that she could send to her union, SEIU Local 668, and a form to fill out if the letter wasn’t effective, which...

Pennsylvania Watchdog: Unions kept collecting dues after workers resigned

March 3, 2019 — Pennsylvania lawmakers were warned last fall that if the state didn’t amend its laws to comply with the terms of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Janus v. AFSCME ruling, the result could be a host of legal complications. That warning is...

National Review: Mark Janus, the man who ended compulsory union dues

March 7, 2019 — He asked the Supreme Court to acknowledge his First Amendment rights, and it did. An average guy, provoked enough, can accomplish things that are above average. Mark Janus is such a guy. Provoked by what he believed was a bald violation...

LebTown: County faces lawsuit over alleged unauthorized deduction of union dues

March 7, 2019 — Four Lebanon County employees have filed a federal complaint (PDF) against the county and Teamsters Local 429 for unauthorized deductions of union dues from their paychecks. The lawsuit stems from a June 2018 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that significantly weakened...

Lebanon Daily News: 4 Lebanon County employees sue over forced union dues

March 7, 2019 — Four Lebanon County employees are suing the county and a union they say required them to pay dues after the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed that practice. “Our clients have repeatedly made it clear to Lebanon County and Teamsters Local 429 that...

Albuquerque Journal: Janus supports New Mexico workers’ right to work

February 22 — The state House late Friday approved a bill that would bar counties in New Mexico from enforcing local “right-to-work” ordinances. The proposal, House Bill 85, now heads to the Senate for consideration. Democratic Reps. Daymon Ely of Corrales and Andrea Romero of Santa...

Illinois Policy: Chicago alderman wants “Robot Tax”

(Feb. 14, 2019) As Amazon considers pulling its HQ2 out of New York City, Chicago is considering imposing a “robot tax” on companies looking to automate their way around high labor costs.

Daily Herald: Illinois school employee sues for refund of union dues

February 12 — Citing a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision from last summer, a Palatine Township Elementary District 15 diesel mechanic is suing his former union and the district for a refund of dues he says he paid unwillingly. Erich Mandel, a Palatine resident, contends...

Marietta Daily Journal: LJC one of 21 policy groups backing lawsuit to end forced union representation

January 11 — In what could be the largest labor-related case since Janus v. AFSCME, policy groups from around the country are expressing support for a lawsuit that would prohibit forced representation from public sector unions. The lawsuit, litigated by the Ohio-based, free-market Buckeye Institute, received...

North Cook News: Janus didn’t settle union dues question after all, LJC attorney says

January 10–Would-be nonunion members who thought the U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus decision had codified their right not to pay compulsory collective bargaining dues are discovering the unions have an out, according to a lawsuit filed last month. Jeffrey Schwab, senior attorney at Liberty Justice Center, heads the...

Chicago Tribune: LJC represents IL worker forced to pay dues despite Supreme Court ruling that bars practice

January 6 — A northwest suburban school employee is suing his labor union, saying he’s being blocked from opting out of membership despite a landmark Supreme Court ruling last year that barred public unions from requiring government employees to pay dues. Erich Mandel, a diesel mechanic...

Legal NewsLine: California teacher alleges constitutional rights have been violated by union, school district

November 27, 2018 – A special education teacher in California alleges his constitutional rights have been violated because a union refused to allow him to withdraw his membership. Thomas Few filed a complaint on Nov. 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District...

Fox News: LJC threatens litigation in 11 states defying the Janus ruling

September 11, 2018 — Despite the landmark Supreme Court ruling this summer barring public-sector unions from requiring nonmembers to pay so-called agency fees, workers in several states say unions are either flat-out ignoring the decision or establishing a frustrating maze of procedural roadblocks to avoid...

Boston Business Journal: Massachusetts officials say the Janus ruling doesn’t apply to union membership

This article first appeared in the Springfield Republican. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that unions can no longer collect fees from non-members, unions and their advocates slammed the decision as an attack on working people. Many labor rights activists warned the decision could seriously diminish the...

The Salem News: LJC sends “cease and desist” letters to four states

BOSTON — A conservative group is threatening to sue state and local officials if they don’t stop collecting union dues and agency fees from workers’ paychecks. In letters to Gov. Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and other officials, the Chicago-based...

Chicago Sun Times: LJC threatens to sue Oregon officials if they don’t stop collecting dues

PORTLAND, Ore. — A Chicago-based conservative group is threatening to sue Oregon government officials if they don’t stop collecting union dues and agency fees from workers’ paychecks, a newspaper reported Wednesday. The Liberty Justice Center has sent cease-and-desist letters to state officials, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The nonprofit...

Portland Tribune: LJC notifies states they’re violating the Janus decision

August 28, 2018 — The Chicago-based Liberty Justice Center asserts that public employers are required to obtain written affirmation from union members that they wish to continue paying union dues. The law firm that represented the plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned mandatory...

The Oregonian: Janus lawyers threaten lawsuit over union dues in Oregon

(August 28, 2018) An Illinois legal nonprofit has sent cease and desist letters to state and local officials threatening to sue the state of Oregon, the City of Portland and Portland Public Schools if they don’t stop collecting union dues and agency fees from workers’ paychecks. The Liberty Justice...

Daily Southtown: If Frank Mautino didn’t break the rules, the rules are broken

July 13, 2018 When it comes to political graft, paying people under the table isn’t too complicated — as long as you have some blurred lines to hide in. That’s the lesson underlying the tragi-comic saga of Frank Mautino. In the eyes of the law,...

USA Today: Supreme Court’s Janus v AFSCME ruling will force unions to be more accountable

Teacher op-ed: Unions can be great for workers. But supporting workers’ rights isn’t political, and it doesn’t make you anti-union. As a Minnesota teacher, I didn’t have a choice about

Washington Post: Why I took my case over forced union dues to the Supreme Court

By Mark Janus — July 1, 2018 Mark Janus was the plaintiff in Janus v. AFSCME. My home state of Illinois is in financial free fall. The state has billions of dollars in unpaid bills, has unbalanced budgets and is bleeding people and money. A state doesn’t get into...

Fox News: In Janus ruling, Supreme Court restores free speech rights to public workers like me

Teacher Op-ed: In my home state of Alaska, teachers and other public employees are forced to pay fees to unions they didn’t choose to represent them, in order to hold the jobs they love.

Seattle Times: Janus ruling empowers public employees

Now 5.5 million employees in 22 states have their First Amendment freedom of association rights restored — including employees right here in Washington.

Democrat and Chronicle: What the Janus decision means in New York, the nation’s most unionized state

ALBANY – The Supreme Court ruling Wednesday that unions cannot collect fees from non-members could have wide implications across New York, which has the nation’s most heavily unionized public sector. Unions in New York derided the groundbreaking decision by the closely divided Supreme Court as it may weaken...

Daily Signal: Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Union Fees for Government Employees

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Wednesday that nonunion government workers can’t be forced to pay dues or other fees to support a union, further diminishing the power of organized labor and setting up what right-to-work proponents called the “hard work” of protecting free speech rights...

Sacramento Bee: With Janus, California public employees are free from union shakedowns, finally

June 27, 2018 — Will Swaim, president of the California Policy Center Just in time for Independence Day, the U.S. Supreme Court has delivered millions into greater liberty – and a day of reckoning for public-sector union leaders. The court struck down as unconstitutional the...

Fox News: Supreme Court’s Janus decision is a win for government workers (and all Americans)

In its 5-4 ruling Wednesday in Janus vs. AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees), the Supreme Court overturned decades-old precedent that allowed government unions to require public employees to pay union fees or risk being fired. Now millions of teachers, police officers,...

CNBC: Supreme Court rules nonunion workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Wednesday in Janus v. AFSCME that nonunion workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions. The case, one of the most hotly anticipated of the term, is the second in two days to hand a major...

Fox Business: Mark Janus on Supreme Court ruling

Jun. 27, 2018 Janus v. AFSCME plaintiff Mark Janus and attorney Jacob Huebert appeared on Fox Business News to discuss the Supreme Court ruling on public sector unions. Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com

Washington Examiner: Supreme Court decision puts workers in driver’s seat

Op-ed: What could you do with an extra $14,000? I had no choice but to hand it over to a union simply because I’m a public school teacher in Ohio, where people can be fired for not paying money to a union.

Chicago Tribune: How AFSCME’s demands invited the Janus case

June 25, 2018 — Kristen McQueary, Tribune Editorial Board It’s fitting that Mark Janus, the plaintiff behind a highly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling this week, works for Illinois government. The union he sued is particularly influential in politics and policy here — with perilous outcomes...

Capital Public Radio: Teacher Who Challenged Union Speaks Out About U.S. Supreme Court Case

This month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hand down a major decision in Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31, impacting teachers and other public employee unions. Rebecca Friedrichs is a teacher and was the lead plaintiff challenging the California Teachers Association’s “agency shop” arrangement, which requires non-union member...

AFSCME Local president: Supreme Court may give workers a choice, but unions still have a critical choice as well

June 6, 2018 — Michael Thulen, president of AFSCME Local 3790 and contributor to My Pay My Say As president of AFSCME Local 3790 in New Jersey, I empathize with Phillip’s difficult position of being pitted between his personal principles and the coerced nature of the law....

WSJ: Union Activity Ramps Up in Advance of Supreme Court Decision

As organized labor braces for a Supreme Court ruling that could make it easy for public-sector workers to stop paying some dues, unions across the country are reaching out to hundreds of thousands of members to persuade them to keep paying dues. The Service Employees International Union...

The Hill: Let’s support teachers by backing their freedom to choose whether or not to join a union

May 11, 2018 — Colin Sharkey, Association of American Educators As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week this week, teachers across the nation remain remarkably underappreciated. In at least five states so far this year, educators are voicing their discontent by organizing walkouts and strikes to protest...

Real Clear Education: Ruling for Janus Would Reduce Conflict in Washington State Schools

April 3, 2018 — Liv Finne, Center for Education at the Washington Policy Center On February 26th, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Mark Janus, a child support specialist working for the Illinois state...

Teacher: Agency fees are 100 percent political — and unions know it

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in Janus v. AFSCME, a case involving “agency fees” that unions impose on workers who aren’t members to cover union activities with the exception of political action. Since the oral arguments took place, most news outlets, court watchers and even...

Journal Courier: IC alum central in Supreme Court case

To Illinois College alum Mark Janus, who is at the center of a history-making Supreme Court case, it’s about standing up for what he believes is right. It’s that belief that resulted in his fight against the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees...

Monticello Times: Forced public employee union fees violate the nation’s Constitution

March 12, 2018 –Kim Crockett, Center of the American Experiment On Monday morning in the nation’s capital, Americans exercised their right to demonstrate peacefully on the steps of the Supreme Court. Hundreds of public employees, unions officials, and lawyers like me from all over the...

LJC on Cato Daily Podcast: Mandatory Union Fees Return to the Supreme Court

Oct. 5, 2017 LJC Director of Litigation Jacob Huebert spoke with the Cato Institute’s Caleb Brown about Janus v. AFSCME, our Supreme Court case challenging laws that force government workers to pay union fees.

Wall Street Journal: Unions Act As If They’ve Already Lost

Kim Crockett writes about what government unions are doing to prepare for a loss in Janus v. AFSCME.

The Hill: Supreme Court Set for Historic New Term

Janus v. AFSCME highlighted as one of the most important cases of the Supreme Court's new term.

Mark Janus in State Journal-Register: Workers Should Have the Right to Choose on Union Fees

Our client Mark Janus writes about public service and why he's fighting for freedom.

CNN: Supreme Court Adds Union Fee Case to Blockbuster Docket

Sept. 28, 2017 Washington (CNN) – A week before the Supreme Court is set to begin the new term, justices announced Thursday that they are adding a big public sector union fees case to an already blockbuster docket. The issue concerns something that deeply divided...

LJC in National Review Online: No Government Worker Should Be Forced to Pay Union Fees

by Jacob Huebert Sept. 27, 2017 The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce this week whether it will hear a landmark labor case, Janus v. AFSCME. At the heart of the case is this question: Should government workers be forced to pay money to...

State Journal-Register op-ed: State workers should be free to choose who they support

by Jacob Huebert June 29, 2017 As a child support specialist at the Department of Health and Family Services, Mark Janus advocates for children who are caught in the crossfire of their parents’ divorce. Every day he goes to work, hoping to smooth a difficult...

New York Times: Unions Come Into the Justices’ Cross Hairs, Again

June 12, 2017 Last year, the Supreme Court seemed poised to deal a sharp blow to public sector unions. Then Justice Antonin Scalia died and the court deadlocked, granting the unions a reprieve. It may not last long. Last week, a new case raising the same legal question arrived at the...

SCOTUSblog: Will the third time be the charm for challenge to public-sector union fees?

June 7, 2017 It is settled law that public employees who do not belong to the union that represents them cannot be required to pay fees that the union would use for political activity like union organizing. But in 1977, the Supreme Court ruled that public...

Washington Examiner: Justices will decide whether to take a critical case to public-sector unions’ future

June 6, 2017 With Trump tweets, British elections, and new terrorist attacks filling most of the cable news minutes and hours this week, it could easily go unnoticed that a child support specialist named Mark Janus has formally filed the request that his case, Janus v....

AP: New high court challenge to labor unions follows 4-4 split

June 6, 2017 WASHINGTON – Conservative groups are wasting little time in trying to deal a crippling blow to labor unions now that Justice Neil Gorsuch has joined the Supreme Court. A First Amendment clash over public sector unions left the justices deadlocked last year after the...

Chicago Tribune: Embattled Illinois auditor general’s campaign spending under scrutiny at hearing

April 20, 2017 An Illinois State Board of Elections hearing officer is expected to issue a recommendation next month regarding allegations that Auditor General Frank Mautino violated campaign finance disclosure laws during his time as a Democratic state representative. On Thursday, hours of testimony were...

AP: Judge: Cannabis Companies Can Make Campaign Contributions

Mar. 31, 2017 Illinois’ medical marijuana companies, operating in an industry abounding with rules, now have one less regulation they have to follow. The Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/2optGrA) reports that a federal judge ruled last week that a provision preventing cannabis companies from making campaign contributions...

Reason: First Amendment Victory Over Ban on Political Contributions from Medical Marijuana Businesses in Illinois

Mar. 24, 2017 The state of Illinois enacted in 2013 a pretty blatantly unconstitutional law forbidding businesses engaged in (legal) medical marijuana sales or growing from contributing to political campaigns, in effect either directly or via a PAC (though only the latter was literally codified)....

Fox News Channel: Right-to-work court case could have national impact on unions

Feb. 10, 2017 A landmark right-to-work lawsuit playing out in Illinois has captured widespread attention amid expectations the case could land before the Supreme Court – and potentially have national implications for an estimated 20 million government workers. Pat Hughes, who’s representing the three plaintiffs...

Illinois Policy: Chicago Made Their Business Illegal, Now Vugo is Fighting Back

by Austin Berg Feb. 7, 2017 Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel brands his city as “the digital mecca of the Midwest.” But what happens when politicians tilt the playing field toward entrenched interests? Enter Vugo, a promising Midwest tech startup now suing the city for banning its business. Starting up...

CBS Chicago: Chicago Sued for Prohibiting Ads in Uber, Lyft Cars

Feb. 2, 2017 CHICAGO (CBS) — The City of Chicago is being sued for prohibiting advertising in ridesharing vehicles, such as those from Uber or Lyft. WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of Vugo, a company that wants to put...

Chicago Tribune: City sued for banning ads in ride-share vehicles

Feb. 2, 2017 A Minneapolis technology company has sued the city of Chicago for banning advertising inside the private cars used by Uber, Lyft and other ride-share company drivers. Vugo, founded in 2015 and looking to expand its digital advertising business to ride-sharing vehicles here, filed a federal lawsuit...

Chicago Tribune op-ed: Chicago’s home-sharing ordinance is an unwelcome guest

by Jacob Huebert and Christina Sandefur Nov. 29, 2016 When the Cubs won the World Series in early November, the city was euphoric. And in the days leading up to the win, Wrigleyville was buzzing with excited fans — from Chicago and around the world. During that...

Chicago Tribune: Chicago’s Airbnb home-sharing rules are ‘draconian,’ lawsuit says

Nov. 16, 2016 A group of homeowners is suing the city of Chicago, alleging the city’s new “draconian and unintelligible restrictions” on Airbnb and other home-sharing platforms are unconstitutional and punish responsible homeowners. This is the second lawsuit filed this month that takes aim at the city’s...

Fox Chicago: Lawsuit blasts new Airbnb regulations

Nov. 15, 2016 FOX 32 NEWS – A lawsuit has been filed to stop a new ordinance that would put stricter regulations on people who share their homes through sites like Airbnb. The ordinance is set to take effect in just a few weeks, but this...

Wall Street Journal: Tuesday’s Election Will Set Unhappy Union Workers Free

Nov. 14, 2016 One of the most intriguing political shifts Tuesday was Donald Trump’s relative popularity with union members. Exit polls show that Hillary Clinton did not win union households in nearly the numbers that President Obama did in 2012. Although major unions like the...

Madison-St.Clair Record: Liberty Justice Center backs Illinois citizens in state auditor general fight

October 6, 2016 CHICAGO – An Illinois citizen who is taking action against the state’s auditor general in what he alleges is a violation of campaign disclosure laws has gained support from the Liberty Justice Center. The group is providing representation for David Cooke of Streator...

AP: Same-Day Voter Registration at Issue in Illinois Lawsuit

Sept. 4, 2016 CHICAGO (AP) — A federal lawsuit has raised questions about whether Illinois’ new Election Day voter registration rules are constitutional, a situation that could complicate how polling sites are run this November. Illinois tested same-day registration in the 2014 governor’s race, with...

Chicago Tribune: Evanston opens door to outside food trucks

June 16, 2016 Food trucks from outside of Evanston can now peddle their gourmet sandwiches, pastries, coffee and other foods within the city’s borders, thanks to an ordinance change approved by the Evanston City Council on Monday, lifting a restriction that had been place since 2010. Evanston...

Chicago Tribune op-ed: Why I don’t want to pay union dues

by Mark Janus Jan. 5, 2016 As a child support specialist at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, my job is to fight for the little ones. Sometimes when parents aren’t together anymore, kids get caught in the crossfire. These scars can last...

Chicago Tribune: Lincolnshire May Have to Fight for “Right-to-Work” Ordinance

Dec. 30, 2015 Officials in Lincolnshire are aware of the possibility that a new union ordinance could soon face a legal challenge, and both sides are gearing up for a fight. The Illinois chapter of the AFL-CIO — one of the largest union organizations in the nation...

State Journal-Register: Lawsuit filed over SEIU representation

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of six people who work either as child care providers or home caregivers

Alton Daily News: Home Care Workers Sues State, Union

The suit builds off a victory for "right to work" advocates in the 2014 Harris v. Quinn ruling

State Journal-Register: Lawsuit filed over SEIU representation

A new federal lawsuit has been filed saying that child care providers and home caregivers are having their First Amendment rights violated by being forced into a labor union. The lawsuit, filed by the Liberty Justice Center and the National Right to Work Legal Defense...

Illinois Radio Network: Home Care Workers Sue State, Union

Six home care workers are suing the state and the union which currently represents them. Representation is the problem, as the suit argues designating the Service Employees International Union as the “exclusive representative” for child care providers and caregivers violates their First Amendment rights. http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=196011#.WEZC18MrJE6

Chicago Tribune: In-home care workers sue state, union

Illinois is one of more than two dozen states that require public-sector employees to pay partial dues, known as "agency fees," for a union's services

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: Caregivers sue to block union bond

The government has no right to force people to accept union representation merely because they serve clients who received government benefits.

Chicago Tribune: In-home care workers sue state, union

After a significant victory before the U.S. Supreme Court last year, an anti-union organization has stepped up its battle against organized labor in Illinois. A handful of in-home care workers represented by the National Right to Work Legal Foundation on Tuesday sued state officials for...

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: Caregivers sue to block union bond

Six caregivers filed a lawsuit today accusing the state of Illinois of trampling on their First Amendment rights by requiring them to accept union representation against their will. The state is violating their rights to free association and to petition the government by granting a...

Fox 32: Lawsuit filed to block Chicago’s ‘Cloud Tax’

City Hall estimates the 9 percent tax will yield about $5 million

Motherboard: Inside the Legal Challenge to Chicago’s 9 Percent Netflix Tax

The city became the first to try to create a new revenue stream from streamers

Fortune: Netflix and Amazon users sue to stop Chicago’s 9% streaming tax

Local governments are taxing popular cloud services to make up for lost sales tax revenue

Daily Mail: City of Chicago sued for ‘trying to sneak in’ a nine per cent ‘Netflix tax’ on streaming websites including Spotify and Amazon Prime

The City of Chicago is being sued for allegedly attempting to sneak in a nine per cent ‘amusement tax’ on streaming sites like Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Prime. A lawsuit filed against the Illinois city claims it had no legal right to bring in the...

Daily Mail: City of Chicago sued for ‘trying to sneak in’ a nine per cent ‘Netflix tax’ on streaming websites including Spotify and Amazon Prime

A lawsuit filed against the Illinois city claims it had no legal right to bring in the levy which could lead to higher bills for residents

Fox News Channel: City of Chicago Sued Over ‘Netflix Tax’

Hollywood Reporter: Chicago’s Tax of Netflix, Spotify Subscriptions Challenged in Court

Legal group says city can’t levy Netflix’s video streaming service if the tax does not apply to the video-by-mail service. The City of Chicago’s recent move to extend its 9 percent “amusement tax” to streaming services is an abuse of authority, claims the Liberty Justice...

Chicago Tribune: Downers Grove Man Sues Over New Village Ban on Painted Wall Signs

July 23, 2015 A Downers Grove business owner is hoping the painted wall signs that have advertised his business for decades will not be allowed to fade away, but whether his current signs stay or go may now depend entirely on the results of his lawsuit against...

Fox News Channel: Unions battle for survival in key strongholds as court cases challenge forced dues

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Apr. 6, 2015 The future of public and private unions in two big labor-friendly states may be at stake as foes mount aggressive legal challenges over the long-controversial practice of mandatory dues. The court cases in Illinois and California...

WGN: Pension arguments

Featuring Jacob Heubert

WTTW: Fair share union dues

Featuring Jacob Huebert

Chicago Tonight: Analyzing Rauner’s Executive Order

Jacob Huebert was featured on Chicago Tonight on WTTW to discuss Gov. Rauner’s executive order giving freedom from mandatory union dues and union membership to Illinois workers. During the segment, Jacob discussed how the Governor’s action represents a significant step forward for Illinois’ economy and...

WMAY Bishop on Air: Challenging EDGE Tax Credits

http://www.wmay.com/episode/challenging-edge-tax-credits-bishop-on-air/

Chicago Tribune: Group sues to end Illinois tax breaks for retaining jobs

The legal arm of the conservative Illinois Policy Institute on Friday filed a lawsuit to end the state’s practice of awarding tax credits to businesses for retaining jobs. The Illinois Policy Institute is closely aligned with Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner, who will be sworn in Monday....

My Suburban Life: Looking Back at Downers Grove’s Biggest Stories in 2014

Dec. 29, 2014 What happened: The village is enforcing a new sign ordinance after a nine-year grace period. The ordinance only allows business signs to face driveable right-of-ways, like roads, and not train tracks, like the Metra/BNSF line. The ordinance also doesn’t allow painted wall signs...

Chicago Tribune: Businessman sues Downers Grove to keep signs painted on his building

Dec. 9, 2014 A Downers Grove business owner is taking to federal court a long-running fight over signs on his building. Robert Peterson is suing the village of Downers Grove to keep from having to paint over signs deemed in violation of local ordinance. The suit...

WTVP: At Issue: Money and Politics

Video: LJC's Jacob Huebert debates campaign contribution limits

Pantagraph: City to change party bus, taxi regulations after judge’s ruling

Sept. 4, 2013 BLOOMINGTON — The city will look to change its rules for licensing party buses and other vehicles for hire rather than appeal a judge’s ruling last week that its current rules are unconstitutional. The city also will grant Julie Crowe the right...

Pantagraph: City’s rules for licensing vehicles-for-hire ruled unconstitutional

Aug. 30, 2013 BLOOMINGTON — The city’s rules for licensing vehicles-for-hire is unconstitutional and the city violated a shuttle owner’s rights when it denied her a chance to run her business, a McLean County judge has ruled. Julie Crowe sued the city in February 2012...

WGEM: Court rules in favor of Wailand in Macomb election results dispute

Apr. 26, 2013 MACOMB, Ill. (WGEM) –A judge has ruled that the results of a February election for an alderman’s seat after the definition of the word “majority” was brought into question by the Macomb City Council. A judge ruled Friday that Steve Wailand shall be...

Grub Street: Doughnuts Fight City Hall — in Evanston

Aug. 9, 2012 Evanston has generally seemed more hospitable to food trucks than Chicago— Evanston’s HummingBird Kitchen was the one truck that could run around actually cooking on board before the passage of the new Chicago food truck ordinance. But Evanston has its own quirky...

Chicago Tribune: Food truck owners sue for right to sell in Evanston

Aug. 8, 2012 James Nuccio and Gabriel Wiesen want to sell gourmet doughnuts and coffee from their colorful food truck on the streets of Evanston. But a 2010 ordinance only allows businesses that have “bricks and mortar” restaurants in Evanston to venture onto city streets...

NBC 5: Evanston Law Spurs Food Fight

Aug. 7, 2012 Mobile restaurant owners have hit a road block in Evanston. Instead of putting on the breaks, two mobile food truck owners are heading full force into a political food fight as the Liberty Justice Center, a public interest litigation center, sues the...

Crain’s Chicago Business: New challenge filed to post-Blago campaign cash law

July 25, 2012 Another legal challenge has been filed to Illinois’ post-Blagojevich campaign-finance law, this one alleging that the law unfairly discriminates in favor of “party bosses.” In an action filed in U.S. District Court here this morning, Liberty Justice Center, a conservative/libertarian legal group...

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