Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty
The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) is a nonprofit public interest law firm located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that says it is "dedicated to the promotion of free markets, individual liberty, and a robust civil society."[1][2] The group was founded by lawyer Rick Esenberg in 2011. Esenberg sought to found a group of advocacy lawyers dedicated to conservative and libertarian causes to counter liberal legal organizations.[3]
Formation | 2011 |
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Location |
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Methods | Public interest law |
President & General Counsel | Rick Esenberg |
Website | www |
Issues
The organization published a study in June 2016 which found that public-sector union reforms passed in Wisconsin in 2011 had not harmed the state's public schools.[4]
In 2016, the organization announced the launch of the Center for Competitive Federalism, a national effort to bring lawsuits and conduct research to promote state sovereignty.[5] That same year, the organization filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, also known as the minimum markup law, which prevents companies from selling products below cost.[6][7]
In February 2020, WILL sued the Madison Metropolitan School District on behalf of 14 parents. WILL argued that the school district's policy allowing children to socially transition their gender identity without parental notification violates constitutionally recognized parental rights.[8]
References
- "About Us". Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- "Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty's file". PolitiFact. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- Elbow, Steven (May 19, 2013). "Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty takes on 'cause lawyering' from the right". The Capital Times. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- Russell, Jason (June 23, 2016). "Scott Walker's union reforms didn't harm Wisconsin schools". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- Henschel, Haley (July 11, 2016). "Conservative legal group announces states' rights initiative". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- Johnson, Shawn (August 23, 2016). "Conservative Group Sues To Overturn Minimum Markup Law". Wisconsin Public Radio. National Public Radio. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- Cassens Weiss, Debra (August 24, 2016). "Suit challenges Wisconsin's minimum markup law". American Bar Association Journal. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- Colton, Emma (February 29, 2020). "Wisconsin parents hit school district with lawsuit over transgender identity policy". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 19 March 2020.