To put it simply, offering families a less inexpensive burial option allowed grieving families to make an economical and dignified choice in a time of need and great stress.

The monks of St. Joseph Abbey have just won a victory in their case against economic protectionism from the state. They have been unable to produce simple caskets, facing fines, but the Institute for Justice has taken their defense in what is set to be a landmark case.

An international comparative study that measures the protection of physical and intellectual property rights ranked the U.S. 18th overall, down from 16th in 2010 and 14th in 2007. The U.S. physical property rights rank fell to 25th, behind countries such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.

This morning, the Institute for Justice filed a major federal lawsuit on behalf of a group of monks from Saint Joseph Abby. Under Louisiana law, it is a crime for anyone but a licensed funeral director to sell “funeral merchandise,” which includes caskets. To sell caskets legally, the monks would have to abandon their calling...

The Institute for Justice’s lawsuit against the Louisiana Horticultural Committee has begun to pick up steam in the media. New Orleans CityBusiness ran a cover story (subscription required) regarding the support of, and opposition to, IJ’s lawsuit. As evident in David Muller’s article, the arguments justifying this blatantly anti-competitive law are weak. In defense of...

Were you aware that Louisiana is the only state requiring florists to have a government-issued license in order to sell floral arrangements? Yes, anyone seeking to sell a floral arrangement (which has its own legal definition in this case) must undergo an arduous test preparation process, culminating in an exam in front of the Louisiana...