Cato's Contributions to Justice
In ten years as president of Cato, I’ve come to appreciate that our work doesn’t always score immediate wins for liberty. Sometimes it’s the constancy and consistency of our efforts that move the climate of ideas a bit more each day in the direction of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. And only after years of effort are the results clear.
But yesterday was one of those great moments when two of our policy experts scored tangible and immediate victories that showcased their dedication and effectiveness.
Ilya Somin, who holds the B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies here at Cato, played a pivotal role as co-counsel in VOS Selections v. United States. This case, decided by the US Court of International Trade, struck down President Trump’s extralegal tariffs. Even as the decision has been temporarily stayed by an appeals court, Ilya’s pro bono work with the Liberty Justice Center safeguarded the livelihoods of five American businesses, underscoring our belief in free markets and constitutional principles.
Ilya himself noted:
It is great to see that the court unanimously ruled against this massive power grab by the President. The ruling emphasizes that he was wrong to claim a virtually unlimited power to impose tariffs, that IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) law doesn’t grant any such boundless authority, and that it would be unconstitutional if it did.
Meanwhile, our colleague Mike Fox saw the results of his hard work when President Trump granted a pardon to John Moore and Tanner Mansell. Mike’s advocacy, including an amicus brief and congressional testimony, helped right a grave injustice the two men faced.
Mike sums up the case neatly in a recent Washington Examiner piece he wrote:
While leading a diving charter in 2020, [Moore and Mansell] stumbled across an abandoned fishing line they believed to be the work of poachers. They reacted in a responsible manner: They hauled in the line, released the entangled sharks, and brought the rig back to the marina after notifying state officials.
You’d think Moore and Mansell deserve praise for their act of civic mindedness. Little did they know that they’d stumbled on a bona fide research project. They’d soon discover their mistake when Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Watts Fitzgerald tried to send them to prison for theft of property within the “special maritime jurisdiction” of the United States. Their crime: “stealing” the line they hauled in and left on the dock.
These victories underscore Cato’s commitment to independence and non-partisanship, as well as our ability to influence meaningful and positive change at the highest levels of government. This is why Cato was founded in 1977, and this is why we continue to pursue our vision: a free and open society in which liberty allows every individual to pursue a life of prosperity and meaning in peace.