Legal Features

The Rutherford Institute is committed to expertise in addressing issues of human rights and civil liberties. Legal Features contains an in-depth analysis of the legal issues which The Rutherford Institute is involved in everyday. Court briefings, case summaries, and legal analysis can provide a deeper understanding of the work which The Rutherford Institute takes on in order to protect and extend human rights and civil liberties throughout the country.

Recent Articles

September 17, 2026

2026 Mid-Year Report: The State of Constitutional Freedom—and the Fight to Defend It

The Constitution cannot protect itself. From AI-powered surveillance and government censorship to executive overreach, militarized policing and attacks on due process, The Rutherford Institute’s 2026 Mid-Year Report reveals the battles underway over the future of constitutional freedom—and what we’re doing to fight back.

August 06, 2026

Constitutional Q&A: The Right to Display First Amendment Messages on Private Property

The First Amendment protects more than the right to speak. It also protects the right to communicate through signs, symbols, flags, art and religious displays without government favoring some viewpoints and suppressing others. In this Constitutional Q&A, The Rutherford Institute explains the constitutional protections governing First Amendment displays on private property and offers general guidance for property owners, communities and public officials.