THE SUPREME COURT RULED—BUT DC DIDN’T LISTEN. NOW THE POWELLS MIGHT LOSE EVERYTHING.

MICHIGAN TOWN GIVES NEIGHBORS VETO POWER OVER CHICKENS, PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND DUE PROCESS 

If the government is going to dictate what you can and cannot do on your land, or worse yet, delegate that power to your neighbors—you’re owed due process. It’s that simple.

PLF client Kathy Sarkisian just wanted to raise a few chickens. But after a year of research, securing the necessary permits, and spending thousands of dollars in construction costs to retrofit her home—taking special care to check every box required by her local government—she was told that a neighbor had vetoed her dreams.  

No discussion. No hearing. No opportunity to appeal. Now, she’s taking her fight to federal court.

COURT RULES AGAINST UNCHECKED TARIFF AUTHORITY

On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of International Trade rejected the view that the executive branch has unilateral authority over tariff and trade policy, ordering the administration to end the recent tariff regime within 10 days.  

PLF senior attorney Oliver Dunford applauded the ruling: “This is a tremendous win for our system of separated powers and the rule of law.” He added, “By correctly recognizing that the executive branch does not have unilateral power over trade policy, the court has begun the process of restoring the power to impose tariffs to where it rightly belongs—with Congress.”  

NEWSOM HAS NO MORAL HIGH GROUND IN TARIFFS FIGHT 

In light of Wednesday’s ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade ordering the administration to end its recent tariff regime, PLF attorney Luke Wake calls attention to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s hypocrisy on the issue: “Given Gavin Newsom’s history of exceeding his executive authority, he has no moral authority to decry a breakdown of the separation of powers... You can’t trample on the Constitution and then expect it to stand as a shield against abuse when someone else is in power.” 

ONE STEP CLOSER: DISTRICT COURT DENIES CITY’S ATTEMPT TO DISMISS SURFER’S FIGHT FOR ECONOMIC FREEDOM  

Earlier this year, we filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Jason Murchison—a former Navy diver and professional surf instructor—challenging the City of Newport Beach’s unlawful restrictions on surf lessons.

On Wednesday, a district court denied Newport Beach’s attempt to dismiss Jason’s case outright. Now, Newport Beach will have to defend its outrageous ban on surf instruction, and Jason will have the opportunity to restore his right to earn a living.  

FEDERAL AGENCIES AREN’T ABOVE THE LAW

Cody Peterson is a third-generation farmer in eastern North Dakota. For decades, his family has been committed to growing food for their community and others across the country. But recent actions by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service threaten Cody’s ability to make a living from farming, PLF senior attorney Jeff McCoy explains.

TENNESSEE JOINS ARKANSAS, MONTANA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA IN ROLLING BACK DISCRIMINATORY QUOTAS 

In a major win for equality under the law, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed new legislation that removes discriminatory racial quotas from the state’s medical licensing boards. PLF attorney Laura D’Agostino applauded the effort, noting, “This victory makes it clear: Government cannot use race to decide who gets a seat at the table.”

With this legislative fix, Tennessee joins Arkansas, Montana, and South Carolina in rolling back these kinds of unconstitutional barriers in 2025—each following lawsuits filed by PLF on behalf of our clients and partner organizations like Do No Harm and the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR). 

THE SAN DIEGO-UNION TRIBUNE: NOWHERE TO LIVE? NO HIDING FROM BAD GOVERNMENT POLICIES  

In the mid-1800s, slum housing in cities like New York had no air, no light, no water, no electricity, no gas, and no toilets. Today, we face a new housing crisis: While most housing meets at least minimal standards of health and safety, homes and apartments are increasingly unaffordable.

In his latest op-ed in The San Diego-Union Tribune, PLF’s James Burling explains how we got to this point and what’s needed to make housing more affordable for the millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet.  

The short answer: Government solutions often cause more pain than they cure. A healthy respect for private property is the key to getting us out of this mess once and for all.