Washington, DC — The Institute for Free Speech is pleased to welcome Lee E. Goodman, former Chairman and Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), as a Senior Fellow.

Goodman is a Partner at Dhillon Law Group, where he advises clients on campaign finance, election law, lobbying regulations, and constitutional litigation. He is a nationally recognized authority on election law, government ethics, and First Amendment rights.

During his tenure at the FEC, Goodman led the agency’s effort to bring its regulations into line with the Supreme Court’s landmark decisions in Citizens United and McCutcheon, and championed free speech and free press rights on the internet. Before joining the FEC, he served as legal counsel and policy advisor to the Governor and Attorney General of Virginia, as associate general counsel of the University of Virginia, and as general counsel to numerous political organizations.

Goodman has authored numerous articles on election law, including a chapter in Law and Election Politics: The Rules of the Game (Routledge 2013). His writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Politico, and other outlets. He also contributed to the Institute’s own 50th anniversary Buckley v. Valeo symposium with his essay, “The Buckley Principles.”

As a Senior Fellow, Goodman will lend his expertise to the Institute’s work analyzing legislation, regulations, and litigation affecting First Amendment rights.

“The right to speak, publish, organize, and petition our government free from regulation is foundational to democracy and our constitutional order,” said Goodman. “I look forward to working with the Institute for Free Speech to defend these vital freedoms.”

Institute for Free Speech Chairman Bradley A. Smith, who also served as a Chairman of the FEC, welcomed Goodman to the organization.

“Lee Goodman is one of the sharpest and most principled voices to have served on the FEC in its history,” said Smith. “His leadership reflected a genuine commitment to the First Amendment and the rule of law. We are fortunate to have his insight and experience as we continue our work defending Americans’ right to political speech.”

About the Institute for Free Speech

The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the political speech rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government guaranteed by the First Amendment.