Supreme Court Cases

The Institute for Justice has won 10 U.S. Supreme Court cases.

Collectively, these cases span all our litigation areas. Our victories have vindicated the right to earn an honest living, expanded educational opportunity for millions of children, defended free speech, and strengthened the Constitution’s protection for Americans’ property.

IJ won both cases that it argued during the 2023 Supreme Court term.

In DeVillier v. Texas, Richie DeVillier and his family sought compensation from Texas after the state built a concrete barrier along a highway caused several devastating floods on his property. On April 16th, the Supreme Court vacated the Fifth Circuit decision and ruled the Devillier family can sue Texas for flooding caused by the state.

In Gonzalez v. Trevino, a Texas grandmother named Sylvia Gonzalez sued officials in Castle Hills, Texas after they arrested her as punishment for criticizing the city manager. On June 20th, the Supreme Court ruled that Americans’ First Amendment rights are violated when they are arrested in retaliation for their speech.

Even when IJ loses—which has happened only twice—we keep fighting to change the law and get justice for our clients. Following a technical win for the government, James King is still in court, with IJ by his side, fighting to hold accountable the Michigan police officer and FBI agent who misidentified him, beat him, and then lied to make sure he was charged with crimes. And after the Supreme Court ruled private developers could take Susette Kelo’s little pink house, IJ created a grassroots movement for reform and continued to win eminent domain abuse cases in state supreme courts. In the wake of the Court’s widely decried decision, almost every state changed its laws to make it harder for the government to take property and give it to private developers.

You can learn more about each of IJ’s Supreme Court cases below.