Scott Bullock facts for kids

Scott G. Bullock is an American lawyer. He helps people with issues about their property rights. This includes topics like eminent domain and civil forfeiture. Since 2016, he has been the president of the Institute for Justice. This is a group that works to protect people's rights.

In 2005, Bullock represented Susette Kelo in a very important case. It was called Kelo v. City of New London. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court. Bullock was a senior lawyer before becoming the president of the Institute. He led many cases at both state and federal levels.

Early Life and Education

Scott Bullock was born in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. He grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied economics and philosophy at Grove City College. Later, he earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Bullock joined the Institute for Justice when it first started in 1991.

Protecting People's Property Rights

Scott Bullock works hard to protect people's rights to their property. He believes that everyone should be able to own and use their things freely. He has worked on many cases where the government tried to take people's land or money.

The Kelo v. City of New London Case

In 2005, Bullock was the main lawyer in the Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London. The city of New London, Connecticut, wanted to take people's homes. They planned to build new offices, hotels, and houses. The Supreme Court allowed the city to take the homes. Bullock said this was "a sad day for the country." He felt it was also "a sad day for the Constitution." He continued to fight for property owners.

Fighting Against Civil Forfeiture

Bullock has also spoken out against something called civil forfeiture. This is when police can take money or property. They might do this if they think it was used in a crime. Bullock believes this practice is often unfair. He says it does not "respect fundamental notions of due process." This means people might not get a fair chance to prove their property is innocent.

He has also talked about "equitable sharing." This is when state and federal police share money from seized property. Bullock thinks this goes against the idea of federalism. This means the different levels of government should have separate powers.

Speaking Out for Rights

Scott Bullock has shared his ideas on important legal topics. He has written for newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on TV shows like 60 Minutes and ABC Nightly News. He often talks about First Amendment rights. These rights protect things like freedom of speech. He also supports parental rights.