Braden Boucek

Vice President of Legal Affairs, Beacon Center of Tennessee

Braden H. Boucek serves as Vice President of Legal Affairs at the Beacon Center of Tennessee. His primary responsibility is to use constitutional litigation to advance Beacon’s larger goal of promoting freedom and opportunity. His practice has focused on occupational licensure, economic liberty, property rights, and free speech. Using the rational basis test, and state constitutional challenges, he has successfully challenged licenses for shampooing, animal massage, and software installation. And he is currently challenging a state law requiring barbers (but not emergency medical responders) obtain a high school degree. Braden also successfully brought one of the first challenges in the country to short-term rental restrictions. He has also challenged Inclusionary Zoning laws. As a former federal and state prosecutor, he has a particular interest in criminal justice and asset forfeiture issues. He is a frequent speaker and enjoys a good debate. Braden also assists in drafting legislation designed to promote open access to courts and school choice.

Braden has had an active litigation career since he was first admitted to practice in 2001. He has handled many jury trials and appeals in both state and federal court. Previously, Braden was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in both Nashville and Memphis for over nine years. During that time, he handled hundreds of cases ranging from Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking, Fraud, Counterfeiting, Terrorism and Immigration offenses. Braden has been recognized by his office for performance, winning both the Special Achievement award and Distinguished Service award. Two of his investigations were recognized as the district’s “Case of the Year” by the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. For nearly five years before joining the Department of Justice, Braden served as a prosecutor for the State of Tennessee, first as an Assistant Attorney General and later as an Assistant District Attorney. He has been lead counsel in many jury trials at both the state and federal level. He has also argued dozens of cases before state and federal appellate courts, including the Tennessee Supreme Court and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Braden also served as an extern for the Florida Supreme Court. He obtained his J.D. at Florida State University College of Law, and his B.A. at the University of Richmond.