Rick Esenberg

WisconsinEye Urgent Funding Appeal

Will Releases Statement on Redistricting Ruling

WILL Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court’s School Choice Decision

Senators Baldwin and Johnson Renew Bipartisan Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission

The commission will work to fill unfilled U.S. Attorney and federal judgeship positions

WILL Hires New Communications Director

Oconomowoc Schools Drop Legal Threat Aimed At Local Parent After WILL Response

After sending cease-and-desist letter the school district now considers the matter “closed”

U.S. Supreme Court Reverses WI Supreme Court, Gov. Evers’ Maps Unconstitutional

Majority decision says state court “committed legal error” in adopting maps

WILL Joins Redistricting Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court

Governor Evers’ maps are racially gerrymandered, violating federal Constitution

WILL Urges Governor Evers to Abandon Race Discrimination in New Housing Assistance Program

State program to allocate housing grants based on race

Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty president to go “On the Issues,” Oct. 7

Wisconsin Supreme Court Takes WILL Redistricting Case

WILL filed original action on behalf of four Wisconsin voters living in malapportioned districts

WILL Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Take Jurisdiction of Redistricting

Original action, on behalf of four voters, requests judicial apportionment plan

WILL to ACLU of Wisconsin: Schools Not Required to Teach Critical Race Theory

WILL responds to ACLU letter to Wisconsin schools

Wisconsin Supreme Court Declares Racine School Closure Order Invalid

Racine health officer issued school closure order in November 2020

WILL Sues City of Madison for Unconstitutional Race Discrimination

Madison’s Police Civilian Oversight Board imposes illegal racial quotas

WILL Sues Wisconsin Elections Commission Challenging Legal Status of Ballot Drop Boxes

State law provides just two methods for casting an absentee ballot

Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down Dane County School Closure Order

WILL filed original action when Dane County health department tried to close all schools

Federal Appeals Court Bars Biden Administration From Using Race to Prioritize COVID Restaurant Relief

WILL challenged federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund on behalf of Tennessee restaurant owner

WILL to Biden Education Department: Critical Race Theory is Wrong for Public Schools

WILL weighs in on federal Department of Education priority to advance equity in American History and Civics

WILL Sues Biden Administration for Race, Sex Discrimination in Allocation of COVID Relief Funds for Restaurants

WILL represents Tennessee restaurant owner who would be eligible for funds, but for his race and sex

WILL Sues Biden Administration for Race Discrimination in Farmer Loan Forgiveness Program

Five plaintiffs from four states would be eligible for federal program, but for their race

WILL President Rick Esenberg on Supreme Court Decision in Zignego v. WEC

WILL sued WEC in 2019 after state agency refused to clean up voter rolls.

Wisconsin Supreme Court: Gov. Evers’ Multiple Emergency Declarations Violate Law

Wisconsin’s Emergency Powers Laws in Urgent Need of Reform

New study examines Wisconsin’s emergency powers laws, provides recommendations for reform

WILL Warns City of Madison of Lawsuit Over Unconstitutional Racial Discrimination

Notice of Claim asserts racial quotas violate the law, Constitution

WILL Files Motion for Contempt After City of Racine Ignores Supreme Court Order

Racine Public Health Administrator instructs schools to remain closed despite injunction

Wisconsin Supreme Court Blocks Racine School Closure Order, Grants WILL Original Action

Case held in abeyance while Court considers Dane County school closure order

WILL Files Original Action in WI Supreme Court to Halt Latest Dane County Gathering Ban, Restrictions on Businesses

Dane County and the City of Madison have unlawfully delegated law-making power to the health department

WILL Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Halt Racine School Closure Order

The Court already issued an injunction putting similar order on hold in Dane County case

WILL Hires Kyle Koenen to be Policy Director Koenen brings extensive legislative experience to WILL policy team

Koenen brings extensive legislative experience to WILL policy team

WILL Amicus: Gov. Evers’s Emergency Declarations Threaten Separation of Powers

WILL files amicus in original action before Wisconsin Supreme Court

WILL Asks Judge to Decide on Merits in Lawsuit Challenging Gov. Evers’s Emergency Declarations

Critical questions remain before the court on emergency powers

WILL Pledges Appeal in Lawsuit Challenging Governor Evers’s Emergency Declarations

Judge denies WILL’s motion for injunction

WILL Files Motion for Immediate Injunction in Lawsuit Challenging Governor Evers’s Emergency Declaration

Motion for immediate relief comes after Governor Evers extends emergency

Governor Evers Violates State Law Again with Third COVID Emergency Declaration

WILL sued Governor Evers in Polk County in August over second COVID emergency

Wisconsin Supreme Court Agrees to Hear WILL Challenge to Dane County School Closure Order

Court issues temporary injunction allowing schools to open immediately

WILL Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Invalidate Dane County School Closure Order

Original action on behalf of affected parents, private schools, and school associations

WILL Sues Governor Evers Over Second COVID-19 Emergency Declaration

Lawsuit filed in Polk County challenges Governor Evers’s power grab.

WILL Urges Madison West High School to Reconsider Racially Segregated Group Discussions

Madison West High School students were separated by race for group discussions

Wisconsin Supreme Court: Three of Governor Evers’ Budget Vetoes Unconstitutional

Court strikes down 3 of 4 budget vetoes in WILL original action

U.S. Supreme Court Orders Seventh Circuit to Reconsider Decision in WILL Religious Liberty Case

Case against DPI will be reassessed in light of Espinoza v. Montana

U.S. Supreme Court Decision a Win for Families, School Choice

WILL and Scott Walker submitted amicus in key school choice case

EPA Adopts WILL Recommendation, Majority of Sheboygan County Attains National Air Quality Standards

EPA limits non-attainment zone in the county

WILL Asks Supreme Court to Review WEC Lawsuit

Wisconsin deserves clean elections in 2020

WILL Sues Madison Schools for Violating Parental Rights

District refuses to alter gender identity policies

WILL Asks Court to Hold Wisconsin Elections Commission in Contempt

State elections agency refuses to comply with court order.

WILL Sues Wisconsin Election Commission

Agency ignored state law, allowing voter registrations at old addresses to remain active.

Former WILL attorney launches open government law firm

"WILL is pleased to welcome the Wisconsin Transparency Project to the scene."

WILL Wins Campus Free Speech Victory

NWTC's Public Assembly Policy deemed "unconstitutional."

WILL Suggests Improvements to UW Free Speech Policy

Submits public comment to better balance, safeguard First Amendment rights of all

WILL Sues Evers at Wisconsin Supreme Court Over Budget Vetoes

Original action asks Supreme Court to rein in, limit partial vetoes

Non-denial Means Wisconsin Should be Worried

Speaker and Majority Leader careful not to actually deny their desire to rig 2021 map-drawing

New Hire: WILL adds former Deputy Solicitor General

Litigation team grows to meet heightened challenges

WILL Stands Up For Free Speech, Religious Liberty of Appleton School Board Member

Puts Appleton School Board on notice for potential First Amendment violations

WILL is Moving Offices!

Enters a new phase of growth with bigger office space in Milwaukee

WILL Sues City of Eau Claire for Using Illegal TIF to Raise Tax Revenue

City claims it needs TIF district for a building that’s already built, misuses tax dollars along the way

Trump Discusses WILL Lawsuit at White House

Free speech executive order prominently features WILL

Governor Evers Agrees With WILL on Legal Status of Wedding Barns

Evers administration pledges to interpret law as previously practiced

Evers Admin. Prolongs Uncertainty for Wedding Barn Owners

Evers, Kaul provide no clarity on legality of wedding barns

1 Year Later: Religious-themed Valentines STILL Cannot Be Freely Distributed at Tech College

WILL produces new video showing Polly innocently handing out Valentines, files for summary judgment

WILL Announces New Hires, Staff Promotions

Adds staff to face new challenges

WILL Asks Supreme Court to Rule War Memorial Cross Constitutional

Amicus argues cross does not violate the Establishment Clause.

Trump Administration Seeks to Cancel Misguided Obama-era School Discipline Policy

WILL work has championed rescinding the illegal, harmful policy

WILL disagrees with legal analysis, prepared to fight for economic freedom

WILL disagrees with legal analysis, prepared to fight for economic freedom

WILL Hires Lucas Vebber as Deputy Counsel

Before joining WILL, Lucas served as General Counsel and Director of Environmental and Energy Policy at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

Supreme Court Rules Congress Can’t Require States to Prohibit Sports Betting

“This is a victory for competitive federalism,” said Rick Esenberg, President and General Counsel of WILL

Wisconsin Free Market Groups: Senate Was Right to Reject Kimberly- Clark Bailout

The death of this “pay-to-stay” proposal is a victory for free market principles.

WILL Sues Rep. Brostoff in E-mail Dispute

Brostoff is refusing to turn over electronic records, instead insisting on printing them and charging unnecessary fees.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Takes WILL Case Challenging Wisconsin’s Law Prohibiting Cemeteries from Operating Funeral Homes

The law does nothing more than protect funeral directors from competition.

CJ Szafir Promoted to Executive Vice President

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty announced the promotion of CJ Szafir to Executive Vice President.

WILL Sues State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers

The lawsuit claims that Evers and DPI are refusing to follow the newly enacted REINS Act.

WILL Files Petition for Review With The Wisconsin Supreme Court In Professor McAdams’ Case Against Marquette

WILL believes the court should hear the case now because there is no binding precedent on the question of how far academic freedom extends.

Wisconsin’s Largest Legal and Policy Center Continues to Grow

Adds new staff to growing policy team

New Report Shows Impact of Current Accountability Measures in Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

Report challenges voucher program critics’ opposition that schools are “unaccountable”