The Forum for Constituional Rights (FCR) was established in 2020 as a Minnesota public benefit corporation focused on public education about constitutional history and constitutionally guaranteed rights.
FCR’s mission involves publishing projects focused on federal (and state) constitutional matters, and the filing of amicus briefs in important constitutional law cases. FCR is non-partisan in its focus.
FCR’s founder Matt Ehling has been involved in journalism, public affairs education, public interest litigation, and non-partisan government oversight work for three decades.
Publications and Reports
Publications
FCR publishes reports, analysis and opinion pieces on constitutional matters.
On May 10, 2024, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued its opinion in Snell v. Walz II — a case that examined the “narrow issue” of whether Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had the legal authority to declare a peacetime emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Snell II, the Court affirmed a Minnesota Court of Appeals decision concluding that the Minnesota Emergency Management Act (MEMA) granted the Governor the authority to declare a peacetime emergency to address the COVID pandemic.
However, the Minnesota Supreme Court also specifically noted that its opinion pertained solely to whether the Governor possessed legal authority to declare the initial peacetime emergency, and did not address “the legality of any other executive order issued by the Governor during the COVID pandemic.” And — writing in concurrence — Justice Anderson separately noted that the powers invoked by Governor Walz raised “serious concerns requiring legislative consideration.”
Several COVID-era executive orders (EOs) issued by Governor Walz raised constitutional problems, including two identified by federal courts that reviewed Minnesota’s COVID-era EOs. In addition, the Governor’s over-broad use of MEMA highlighted needed changes to Minnesota’s emergency management statute, in order to curb future executive over-reach.
Read FCR’s op-ed on the Minnesota Supreme Court’s opinion in Snell v. Walz II, and the aftermath of the use of MEMA by Governor Walz.
Annual Reports
The Forum For Constitutional Rights (FCR) is organized as a Minnesota pubilc benefit corporation, organized to pursue a general public benefit by engaging in publishing and legal activites involving constitutionally guaranteed rights secured by the federal and state constitutions of the United States of America.
As a public benefit corporation, FCR files a public report with the State of Minnesota each year. The report documents FCR’s annual activities. Read our reports at the links below.
2020 Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation Report