Jonathan Riches is the Director of National Litigation for the Goldwater Institute’s Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation and General Counsel for the Institute.
He litigates in federal and state trial and appellate courts in the areas of economic liberty, taxpayer rights, public union and pension reform, government transparency, free speech, and school choice, among others.
Jonathan has developed and authored several pieces of legislation, including the landmark Right to Earn a Living Act, which provides some of the greatest protections in the country to job-seekers and entrepreneurs facing arbitrary licensing regulations. He also developed legislation eliminating deference to administrative agencies in Arizona – a first of its kind regulatory reform that can serve as a model for the rest of the country.
His work at the Institute has been covered by national media, including the Wall Street Journal, CBS This Morning, Bloomberg News, and Politico.
Prior to joining the Goldwater Institute, Jonathan served on active duty in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. While on active duty, Jonathan represented hundreds of clients, litigated dozens of Court-Martial cases, and advised commanders on a vast array of legal issues.
He previously clerked for Sen. Jon Kyl on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, worked for the Rules Committee in the Arizona State Senate, and clerked in the Office of Counsel to the President at the White House. Jon received his B.A. from Boston College, where he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his J.D. from the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law.
*****
A person listed as a contributor has spoken or otherwise participated in Federalist Society events, publications, or multimedia presentations. A person's appearance on this list does not imply any other endorsement or relationship between the person and the Federalist Society. In most cases, the biographical information on a person's "contributor" page is provided directly by the person, and the Federalist Society does not edit or otherwise endorse that information. The Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues. All expressions of opinion by a contributor are those of the contributor.
Deep Dive Episode 30 – Arizona Dumps Deference: The Beginning of the End for Chevron?
Regulatory Transparency Project Teleforum
TeleforumDeep Dive Episode 4 – "Uber of the Sky": The Story of Flytenow
Regulatory Transparency Project Teleforum
TeleforumExplainer Episode 64 - Union Release Time: Who Should Pay?
RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast
In this episode, Jon Riches and James Sherk discuss fundamental questions related to government labor...
Explainer Episode 60 - Bias Response Teams, American College Campuses, and Free Speech
RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast
What are bias response teams (BRTs)? What role do they play on American college campuses?...
Administrative Appeals in Arizona: Does Form Prevail over Substance?
The Arizona Supreme Court’s decision in Shea v. Maricopa County[1] turns on whether form prevails...
State Court Docket Watch: 2018 Edition
State Court Docket Watch
Download PDF Alabama Ex parte Jessie Livell Phillips by Allen P. Mendenhall – pg.20 Alaska State of...
Docket Watch: State v. Jean
Does a passenger traveling with the owner of a private vehicle have a reasonable expectation...