Do you need a government license to trace a map from publicly available data? It might sound ridiculous, but in California the answer is “yes.” An entrepreneur joined with the Institute for Justice (IJ) to file a federal lawsuit challenging these regulations because they violate his First Amendment rights.

Three braiders in Idaho challenged state requirements to spend thousands of dollars and a year of their lives for an unnecessary license.

Rudy Carey wants to help people overcome addiction through counseling, but Virginia has decided he cannot do so because he has a prior criminal conviction. The Constitution protects Rudy’s right to earn an honest living, which is why he has partnered with IJ to challenge Virginia’s law that bars him from doing so.

Joshua Gray, a private investigator, wanted to expand his business into his home state of Maine. In violation of his First Amendment rights, the state denied his request for a license, because he has criticized police practices. In September of 2021, IJ asked the Supreme Court to hear Joshua’s case.

Wayne Nutt is a retired engineer who still talks about engineering and wanted to testify as an expert witness in a case that involved engineering issues. The state of North Carolina argued Wayne’s testimony was illegal because he didn’t have a license. This violates his First Amendment rights, which is why Wayne is working with IJ to fight back.

Elizabeth Brokamp uses talk therapy to help people improve their lives. When one of her clients relocated to New York she was able to continue speaking with the client online. She’s licensed in Virginia, where she lives, but now New York is demanding she get a license there as well. Elizabeth and IJ partnered to challenge this unnecessary and unreasonable burden.