In the U.S. Supreme Court term that ended on July 1, 2024, The Buckeye Institute’s influence at the court was further cemented with numerous citations in the court’s ruling in Culley v. Marshall. In addition, The Buckeye Institute, the U.S. Constitution, and liberty all scored important victories in seven cases before the high court. That was a wrap on what was an exciting U.S. Supreme Court term with The Buckeye Institute continuing to make its mark.

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Powell v. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, calling on the court to overturn the SEC’s unconstitutional gag rule, which prohibits Americans who settle a case with SEC from discussing the case publicly. “Since our nation’s founding, judicial review in the face of government overreach has been ‘the very essence of civil liberty.’”

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Frisard’s Transportation v. U.S. Department of Labor with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, calling on the court to overturn the U.S. Department of Labor’s rule that forces independent contractors into unwanted employment situations. “This government rule will turn millions of independent contractors into unwilling employees, ending their American dream of working for themselves.”

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Iowa v. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, calling on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to tell the SEC and the Biden administration that their new rule imposing environmental, social, and governance reporting exceeds the SEC’s Congressional authority and will have dire economic consequences for American farmers and families. “Not only does this rule exceed Congressional authority, but it could also spell disaster for struggling American farmers and families.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “While Ohio’s unemployment rate has increased, Ohio’s May jobs report does offer some good news. Employers reported adding 22,900 private-sector jobs led by jobs in healthcare, science, and tech. And revisions to last month’s report reveal that Ohio added 25,000 more jobs than initially reported.”

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Wilson v. Hawaii, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and tell the Hawaii Supreme Court that it is bound by the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings on the Second Amendment. “The U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions are the law of the land with regards to the U.S. Constitution, and Hawaii cannot simply ignore the court or parts of the Constitution that they believe are ‘inconsistent with the Spirit of Aloha.’”

The Buckeye Institute issued a statement after the City of Columbus filed its brief in Doe v. Columbus with the Ohio Supreme Court, saying, “In its third attempt at lifting a preliminary injunction prohibiting Columbus from enforcing its unconstitutional gun law, the city is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to allow the city to appeal the preliminary injunction, which, according to Ohio law, is not appealable.” 

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Laird v. United Teachers of Los Angeles, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and tell government unions that they cannot rely on obscure and arbitrary opt-out windows as a way to deny First Amendment rights to public employees and they cannot illegally take money from public employees’ paychecks once they have quit the union. 

The Buckeye Institute was honored by the New Civil Liberties Alliance at the Third Annual Georgies for Best Amicus Curiae Brief for its amicus brief in Relentless v. U.S. Department of Commerce. Buckeye received the George Washington Award for its brief and help in fighting the administrative state’s abuse of civil liberties. In its brief, The Buckeye Institute argued that the U.S. Supreme Court should overturn Chevron and put an end to judicial deference to executive agencies’ interpretation of the law. 

The Buckeye Institute filed its appeal and a request for oral arguments in Flannery v. D.C. Department of Health with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The Buckeye Institute’s client, Eric Flannery, is challenging D.C. Council’s and Mayor Muriel Bowser’s unconstitutional pandemic-era emergency acts and orders, which D.C. used to force the closure of The Big Board, a neighborhood bar and grill located in our nation’s capital, owned by Mr. Flannery.