Joshua House
Joshua House joined FIRE in September 2023 and writes amicus briefs in cases nationwide implicating the right to free expression. Josh is based in FIRE’s D.C. office.
Before joining FIRE, Josh spent eight years at the Institute for Justice where he litigated constitutional cases in federal and state courts. He spearheaded IJ’s efforts to fight abusive municipal-code enforcement, filing several class actions and testifying before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Josh also defended families’ educational-choice rights at numerous state high courts, including successfully defending West Virginia’s groundbreaking education savings account program. In 2017, Forbes recognized Josh as one of its “30 Under 30” for law and policy.
Before his litigation career, Josh clerked for the Honorable Michael Cherry on the Supreme Court of Nevada. Josh is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School and the University of California, San Diego. He is a member of the California and Nevada bars.
When he’s not defending constitutional liberties, Josh is studying for his Masters of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary, and he is currently a postulant for the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. You can also find Josh rock climbing, running, or hanging out with his wife and daughters near their home in Falls Church, Virginia.
Recent Writings
- FIRE tells Ninth Circuit that social media companies cannot be forced to weigh in on culture war.,
- FIRE sides with NRA, ACLU in First Amendment Supreme Court case,
- Texas law turns booksellers into censors,
- Civil rights leaders cannot be held liable for acts of rogue protestors,
- In new brief, FIRE asks Supreme Court to protect academic speech inside and outside the classroom,
- Does the First Amendment allow public officials to ‘block’ their critics online? The Supreme Court will soon decide.,
- Federal law unconstitutionally lets government officials and public figures veto their critics’ trademarks,
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