First Liberty Institute

Texas based non profit founded in 1997, the largest US legal organization dedicated exclusively to protecting religious liberty

First Liberty Institute history began in 1997, founded as a non-profit law firm focusing on Texas litigation, with Kelly Shackelford as President and CEO. (It was originally founded as a division of the Free Market Foundation and called Liberty Legal Institute). In 2009, Liberty Legal officially became Liberty Institute, quickly gaining renown as the premiere legal organization defending religious liberty in the State of Texas and beyond. In 2014, we founded our Military Division, focused on protecting the religious liberty of service members and veterans, with Senior Counsel Mike Berry as the Director of Military Affairs. In February 2016, Liberty Institute officially became First Liberty Institute. Today, First Liberty is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious liberty for all Americans.

Relationships Interlocks Giving Data

Leadership & Staff

Hiram Sasser General Counsel, First Liberty Institute; Chief of Staff for the Attorney General of Texas

• General Counsel*

Matthew J Kacsmaryk U.S. Northern District of Texas judge

• Deputy General Counsel

Kelly Shackelford President, CEO and Chief Counsel, First Liberty Institute

• President and CEO

Mike Johnson House Speaker, US Representative from Louisiana (2017-present)

• Position ('11→'12)*

Michael Berry Chief of Staff at First Liberty Institute

• Position

Benjamin Bull Christian lawyer and advocate working against human trafficking

• Executive Director of Advocacy, Washington, DC ('18→'19)

Allyson Ho Attorney, Morgan Lewis & Bockius L.L.P.

• Position

Jordan Pratt Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute &was recently appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to FL 5th District Court of Appeal.

• Position

Chelsey Youman TX State Director & National Legislative Advisor, Human Coalition Action

• Senior Counsel (Feb '15→Jun '19)

Ken Klukowski former Senior Counsel to Ass't AG Jeffrey Clark; Senior Counsel and Director for Strategic Affairs, First Liberty Institute, Trump Transition Team Member

• senior counsel and director of strategic affairs

Board Members

David Holmes COO, First Liberty Institute

• Chief Operating Officer

Donors

National Philanthropic Trust Solicits and manages donor advised funds

• Donation/Grant

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

• Donation/Grant

Memberships

State Policy Network right-wing think tank network

• Member

Services & Transactions

CRC Advisors Right wing US political consulting firm founded by Leif Noren

• Service/Transaction · 100,951 USD ('20)