Articles

Author: R. S. Radford Ever wonder why there is a Statue of Liberty on an island in New York Harbor, rather than a Statue of Democracy? Many people apparently think the two terms are synonymous, and those who don't often seem embarrassed by references to the supposedly antiquated (or politically tainted) notion of liberty. The … ...

Author: Brian T. Hodges On Monday, Fox & Friends aired an interview with PLF client Vicki Luhrs about her 10 year struggle to save her Lummi Island home from shoreline erosion.  See PLF's media advisory here. In 1992, Vicki and her husband bought their dream retirement property. Their home sits above a coastal bluff with … ...

Author: Brian T. Hodges Earlier today, Washington’s Supreme Court granted review of a petition asking whether the Legislature can enact a bill that would operate retroactively to wipe out several years of final judicial decisions. Last year, Pacific Legal Foundation successfully argued that Kitsap County, Wash. failed to comply with the ...

Author: Ralph W. Kasarda According to the Navy's Diversity Events Calendar, the League of United Latin American Citizens will hold its annual conference this year in New Mexico – and senior Hispanic officers "are encouraged to attend."  The Navy also encourages Hispanic officers to attend other events, such as one hosted b ...

Author: Brian T. Hodges Shirley and Herbert Leus’ garden seems to have been all but lost to the maelstrom that took over their case, Leu v. International Boundary Commission. If you recall, this is the case where the U.S. Commissioner to the International Boundary Commission ordered retired couple Shirley and Herbert Leu to remove a … ...

Author: Brandon Middleton Folks are concerned about Elena Kagan's response (or lack thereof) to Sen. Tom Coburn's questions about Commerce Clause jurisprudence.  And rightly so.  Here it is in case you missed it: The government that is regulating a noncommercial fish is the same government that will dictate your nutrition.& ...

Author: Brian T. Hodges  Earlier this month, Washington’s Supreme Court issued its long-awaited inverse condemnation decision in Fitzpatrick v. Okanogan County.  The case arose from a joint state/local project to protect a state highway from flood damage by diking the Methow River.  The diking project, however, blocked the r ...

Author: Brandon Middleton I haven't watched any of the recent political debates here in California, but apparently the subject of environmental water cutbacks came up at Wednesday's debate between Sen. Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina.  KPCC reporter Molly Peterson took issue with Fiorina's thoughts on the delta smelt (hat tip: Aqu ...

Author: Brian T. Hodges  Often when I speak about the effect of regulation on property rights, I start by telling a story about 10-year old me and my good old sheepdog, Pepin.  It’s a simple story about walking a half mile from my house to our local park.  Pepin would bounce alongside me wagging his … ...