AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest
Encyclopedia
AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest was formed when the National Legal Center for the Public Interest was merged into the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute
in September 2007. Its stated mission is to "foster knowledge about law and the administration of justice, especially with respect to individual rights, free enterprise, property ownership, limited government
, and a fair and efficient judiciary. It has pursued its educational and intellectual missions through a publishing program, conferences, and the annual Gauer Distinguished Lecture in Law and Public Policy."
.
Publications included white papers, legal monographs, judicial and legislative watch reports, and a public interest law review. NLCPI also sponsored a legal intern program, in which interns performed research and assisted in drafting legal briefs.
Its longtime president was Ernest Hueter, who served in that capacity for 25 years, retiring in 2004.
Fred Fielding was the most recent chairman of the foundation. Other prominent members included Theodore Olson
, Judge Kenneth Starr
, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, William Reynolds
, Robert H. Bork, and Bruce Fein
. Much of its funding came from corporate and conservative foundations, including the Carthage Foundation
, the Sarah Scaife Foundation
, the John M. Olin Foundation
, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Alcoa
Foundation and ExxonMobil
. The Center has also been associated with several prominent Democrats, including Cliff Sloan
, Walter Dellinger, Seth Waxman, Griffin Bell
, and Robert Strauss
.
NLPCI publications frequently supported tort reform
, the corporate interest, and were critical of the "impossibilities" of the Americans With Disabilities Act. NLPCI also ran a "Federal judge identification program" that sought "to identify those who believe that the appropriate role of the judiciary is to interpret the law, not make it."
According to a 1990 column by David Margolick
, the national legal affairs editor at The New York Times
, "This is a group that has taken the famous dictum of Charles E. Wilson
one step further. It is no longer only what's good for General Motors
that is good for America, but what's good for Dow Chemical, Amway
, Shell Oil, 3M
and others represented on the legal center's board of directors."
to become the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest, directed by AEI resident fellow Ted Frank
. AEI's existing legal and constitutional studies program, Federalism Project, and Liability Project were subsumed into the AEI Legal Center.
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
in September 2007. Its stated mission is to "foster knowledge about law and the administration of justice, especially with respect to individual rights, free enterprise, property ownership, limited government
Limited government
Limited government is a government which anything more than minimal governmental intervention in personal liberties and the economy is generally disallowed by law, usually in a written constitution. It is written in the United States Constitution in Article 1, Section 8...
, and a fair and efficient judiciary. It has pursued its educational and intellectual missions through a publishing program, conferences, and the annual Gauer Distinguished Lecture in Law and Public Policy."
The National Legal Center for the Public Interest
The NLCPI was founded in 1975 with funding by J. Simon Fluor and interests controlled by Richard Mellon ScaifeRichard Mellon Scaife
Richard Mellon Scaife is an American newspaper publisher and billionaire. Scaife owns and publishes the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. With $1.2 billion, Scaife, a principal heir to the Mellon banking, oil, and aluminum fortune, is No...
.
Publications included white papers, legal monographs, judicial and legislative watch reports, and a public interest law review. NLCPI also sponsored a legal intern program, in which interns performed research and assisted in drafting legal briefs.
Its longtime president was Ernest Hueter, who served in that capacity for 25 years, retiring in 2004.
Fred Fielding was the most recent chairman of the foundation. Other prominent members included Theodore Olson
Theodore Olson
Theodore Bevry Olson is a former United States Solicitor General, serving from June 2001 to July 2004 under President George W. Bush.- Early life :...
, Judge Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Starr
Kenneth Winston "Ken" Starr is an American lawyer and educational administrator who has also been a federal judge. He is best known for his investigation of figures during the Clinton administration....
, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, William Reynolds
William Reynolds
William Reynolds may refer to:*William Reynolds , American movie and television actor*William Reynolds , English football defender of the 1890s...
, Robert H. Bork, and Bruce Fein
Bruce Fein
Bruce Fein is a lawyer in the United States who specializes in constitutional and international law. Fein has written numerous articles on constitutional issues for The Washington Times, Slate.com, The New York Times, Legal Times, and is active on the issues of civil liberties...
. Much of its funding came from corporate and conservative foundations, including the Carthage Foundation
Carthage Foundation
The Carthage Foundation is one of the American Scaife Foundations. It is controlled by Richard Mellon Scaife. The foundation does not award grants to individuals. It concentrates its efforts towards causes focused on public policy at a national and international level. From 1985 to 2003 the...
, the Sarah Scaife Foundation
Sarah Scaife Foundation
The Sarah Scaife Foundation is one of the American Scaife Foundations. It is controlled by Richard Mellon Scaife. The foundation does not award grants to individuals. It concentrates its efforts towards causes focused on public policy at a national and international level...
, the John M. Olin Foundation
John M. Olin Foundation
John M. Olin Foundation was a grant-making foundation established in 1953 by John M. Olin, president of the Olin Industries chemical and munitions manufacturing businesses. Unlike most non-profit foundations, the John M. Olin Foundation was charged to spend all of its assets within a generation of...
, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Alcoa
Alcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
Foundation and ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
. The Center has also been associated with several prominent Democrats, including Cliff Sloan
Cliff Sloan
Cliff Sloan was the publisher of Slate magazine. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College and served as a Supreme Court clerk for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens...
, Walter Dellinger, Seth Waxman, Griffin Bell
Griffin Bell
Griffin Boyette Bell was an American lawyer and former Attorney General. He served as the nation's 72nd Attorney General during the Jimmy Carter administration...
, and Robert Strauss
Robert Schwarz Strauss
Robert Schwarz Strauss is a figure in American politics and diplomacy. A Texas political figure, Strauss’s political service dates back to future president Lyndon Johnson’s first congressional campaign in 1937. By the 1950s, he was associated in Texas politics with the conservative faction of...
.
NLPCI publications frequently supported tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
, the corporate interest, and were critical of the "impossibilities" of the Americans With Disabilities Act. NLPCI also ran a "Federal judge identification program" that sought "to identify those who believe that the appropriate role of the judiciary is to interpret the law, not make it."
According to a 1990 column by David Margolick
David Margolick
David Margolick is a long-time contributing editor at Vanity Fair. Margolick has held similar positions at Newsweek and Portfolio. Prior to joining Vanity Fair he was a legal affairs reporter at The New York Times, where he wrote the weekly “At the Bar" column and covered the trials of O.J....
, the national legal affairs editor at The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, "This is a group that has taken the famous dictum of Charles E. Wilson
Charles Erwin Wilson
Charles Erwin Wilson , American businessman and politician, was United States Secretary of Defense from 1953 to 1957 under President Eisenhower. Known as "Engine Charlie", he previously worked as CEO for General Motors. In the wake of the Korean War, he cut the defense budget significantly.-Early...
one step further. It is no longer only what's good for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
that is good for America, but what's good for Dow Chemical, Amway
Amway
Amway is a direct selling company and manufacturer that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets. Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos...
, Shell Oil, 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
and others represented on the legal center's board of directors."
Merger with AEI
In September 2007, the NLC was merged into the conservative American Enterprise InstituteAmerican Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
to become the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest, directed by AEI resident fellow Ted Frank
Ted Frank
Theodore H. Frank is an American lawyer, legal writer and blogger, based in Washington, D.C.. He is the founder and president of the Center for Class Action Fairness , established in 2009...
. AEI's existing legal and constitutional studies program, Federalism Project, and Liability Project were subsumed into the AEI Legal Center.