IJ Issue
Sign Codes
Under the First Amendment, the government cannot play the role of critic and censor messages that it deems disagreeable.
- IJ has filed nine cases challenging government restrictions on signs. We have won five of those cases, including three major federal appellate court victories, and one case is still pending.
- Our sign code cases have been featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Forbes.com and in columns by George Will.
- In 2015, our amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court helped lay the groundwork for one of its most important free speech decisions in years, Reed v. Town of Gilbert. That ruling returned the First Amendment to its roots and will protect speakers of all stripes across the nation. And in light of Reed, the High Court overturned a ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which allowed Norfolk, Va., to suppress a banner protesting the government’s illegal attempt to seize private property by eminent domain.
Under the First Amendment, the government cannot play the role of critic and censor messages that it deems disagreeable. Through IJ’s litigation, we are working for a rule of law that does not allow local officials to discriminate between speakers based on what they want to say and that requires the government to justify its speech restrictions with actual evidence rather than empty assertions.
First Amendment Issues
Commercial Speech
The Institute for Justice fights on behalf of entrepreneurs to uphold the deeply American values of free expression and free enterprise.
First Amendment Retaliation
IJ Is Leading the National Fight Against Backdoor Censorship Accomplished Through Government Retaliation Against Speech In many ways, the First Amendment has never been more robust as a…
Occupational Speech
Government officials are increasingly relying on occupational licensing laws to stifle speech and infringe on the right to earn an honest living.
Political Speech
The Institute for Justice opposes censorship and strongly believes that an unfettered marketplace of ideas strengthens political discourse.
Sign Codes
Under the First Amendment, the government cannot play the role of critic and censor messages that it deems disagreeable.
Sign Codes Cases
Commercial Speech | Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Sign Codes
Institute for Justice joins lawsuit defending family bar threatened with fines and even jail time for using “barbershop” theme to honor owners’ late father
Institute for Justice joins lawsuit defending family bar threatened with fines and even jail time for using “barber shop” theme to honor owners’ late father When Mike DiGiacomo and…
First Amendment | Sign Codes | Small and Home-Based Business | Zoning Justice Project
High school art class painted donut mural for bakery, town demands their work be painted over
Leavitt's Country Bakery Owner Sean Young filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Conway, after town officials demanded he paint over a mural that was created by local high school students last summer.
Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Sign Codes
Mandan's "mural police" goes after art the city does not like
In 2019, the city of Mandan told Augie and Brian they’d have to remove their mural because it promoted a business. Augie and Brian successfully teamed up with IJ to stop the town’s law which clearly violated the free speech rights of individuals and businesses.
Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Sign Codes
Mario, the Classic Video Game Character, Fights City Hall
The town of Orange Park, Florida banned Scott Fisher from putting an inflatable blow-up of the video game character Mario in front of his video game store. IJ and Scott challenged the town’s law that discriminated against commercial speech, and in January 2018, the town amended the sign code, allowing Mario to stay.
Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Sign Codes
Sacramento Sign Police Target Small Business: Gym Tells City It Needs To Get With The Program
Sign Codes News
Public Interest Law Firm Applauds Westfield, New Jersey Leaders For Amending Ordinance That Allowed Officials to Censor Opponents
WESTFIELD, N.J.—Last week, officials in Westfield, New Jersey unanimously voted to amend an ordinance that previously gave town leaders unlimited discretion to prohibit signs, posters, or other written materials on…
New Hampshire Town Agrees to Not Enforce Sign Code Against Bakery, Ending First Amendment Lawsuit
CONWAY, N.H.—On Friday, Leavitt’s Country Bakery and the town of Conway, New Hampshire reached a settlement agreement resolving all the outstanding issues in the bakery’s First Amendment…
Public Interest Law Firm Calls on City of Germantown to Cease Enforcement Against Resident Over “Spooky” Christmas Decorations
ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to city officials in Germantown, Tennessee, calling on them to cease all enforcement actions against Germantown resident…
Public Interest Law Firm Condemns City of Germantown for Fining Resident Over “Spooky” Christmas Decorations
ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) condemns the city of Germantown, Tennessee for its brazen violation of Americans’ free speech rights after it cited Alexis Luttrell,…
Public Interest Law Firm Urges Westfield, New Jersey Leaders to Amend Ordinance Giving Officials Ability to Censor Opponents
ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to officials in Westfield, New Jersey, calling on them to change an ordinance that gives town leaders…
Public Interest Law Firm Calls on City of Ellisville to Allow Special Needs Education Center to Remain Open
ARLINGTON, Va.—Today, the Institute for Justice (IJ) sent a letter to city officials in Ellisville, Mississippi, calling on them to allow Naomijoy’s Hopeful Hearts, an education center for low-income, autistic…
Sign Codes Legislation
First Amendment | Sign Codes
Sign Code Act
In June 2015, the United States Supreme Court decided its first sign code case in over 20 years, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, Arizona, 135 S. Ct. 2218 (2015). The Court’s opinion in Reed made clear that…