William Messenger is Foundation Vice President and Legal Director. He was a staff attorney for over twenty years and, during that time, represented individuals in numerous cases that sought to expand worker freedom of choice. This includes acting as lead counsel in three cases before the United States Supreme Court. In 2018, Messenger argued Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, where the Supreme Court held it violates the First Amendment for governments and unions to compel individuals to financially support unions and their speech. Originally from Youngstown Ohio, Messenger attended Ohio University as an undergraduate and then the George Washington University School of Law.

Bar Admissions: Virginia, 2001 (admitted only in VA).

Law School: George Washington University, J.D., cum laude, 2001.

College: Ohio University, B.B.A., 1997.

Member: Federalist Society.

Publications: “Does the First Amendment Allow States to Compel Recipients of Government Monies to Support State-Designated Representatives?,” ENGAGE, Sept. 2010, at 88; “Pre-Recognition Agreements: Can Employers Lawfully Acquire Control Over the Future Representative of their Employees under § 8(a)(2) of the NLRA?,” ENGAGE, Oct. 2006, at 131.

Reported Cases: Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, 138 S. Ct. 2448 (2018); Harris v. Quinn, 134 S. Ct. 2618 (2014); Mulhall v. UNITE HERE Local 355, 618 F.3d 1279 (2010), after remand, 667 F.3d 1211 (11th Cir. 2012), cert. dismissed, 134 S. Ct. 594 (2013) (per curiam 6-3 decision) (argued Nov. 13, 2013); Dana Corp., 341 N.L.R.B. No. 150, 2004 WL 1329345 (June 7, 2004).