Scott Bullock facts for kids

Scott G. Bullock is an American lawyer who works to protect people's rights, especially when it comes to their property. He is known for helping people keep their homes and businesses from being taken by the government unfairly. Since 2016, he has been the president and chief lawyer at the Institute for Justice. This is a group that works to defend people's freedoms and rights.

Early Life and Education

Scott Bullock was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He grew up in the area around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went to Grove City College where he studied economics and philosophy. Later, he earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

After finishing his studies, Mr. Bullock joined the Institute for Justice in 1991. This was when the organization first started. The Institute for Justice is a special kind of law firm. It helps people who are facing unfair government actions.

Protecting Property Rights

Scott Bullock has spent his career fighting for what are called property rights. These rights mean that people should be able to own and control their land and belongings. He has worked on many important cases to protect these rights.

Eminent Domain Cases

One of the most famous cases Scott Bullock worked on was Kelo v. City of New London in 2005. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the United States.

What is Eminent Domain?

Normally, eminent domain is when the government takes private land for public use, like building a road or a school. But in the Kelo case, the city wanted to take people's homes and businesses to give the land to a private company for new buildings.

Mr. Bullock represented Susette Kelo and other homeowners. He argued that it was wrong for the city to take their property for private development. Even though the Supreme Court allowed the city to take the land, Mr. Bullock said it was a "sad day" for the country. After this decision, he and the Institute for Justice worked hard to change laws in different states. They wanted to make it harder for governments to take private property for private businesses. He successfully challenged similar situations in states like Ohio, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Fighting Civil Forfeiture

Scott Bullock also speaks out against something called civil forfeiture. This is when police can take someone's money or property, even if that person hasn't been found guilty of a crime.

Why is Civil Forfeiture a Problem?

Mr. Bullock believes that taking property without a proper trial is unfair. He says it doesn't respect "due process," which means everyone deserves a fair legal process. For example, he helped Russ Caswell. Police tried to take Mr. Caswell's motel in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, because of some illegal activities that happened there, even though Mr. Caswell wasn't charged with a crime.

Mr. Bullock also criticized a practice called equitable sharing. This is when state and federal police share the money they get from seized property. He thinks this practice can cause problems with how different levels of government work together.

Defending Other Freedoms

Beyond property rights, Scott Bullock has also worked on cases involving the First Amendment. This amendment protects important freedoms like freedom of speech.

Right to Earn a Living

In one case, he helped a group of monks in Louisiana. These monks made wooden caskets by hand. The government wanted them to get a special license, which would have made it very hard for them to sell their caskets. Mr. Bullock argued that everyone has the right to earn a living. The court agreed, protecting the monks' right to sell their handmade products.

Sharing His Views

Scott Bullock often shares his ideas about constitutional issues. He has written for major newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on TV shows like 60 Minutes and on National Public Radio.

During his time as a lawyer and as president of the Institute for Justice, the organization has taken many cases to the U.S. Supreme Court. They have won most of these important cases, helping to protect people's rights across the country.