The Sutherland Institute

The Sutherland Institute’s philosophy is simple: We believe that parents are responsible for their childrens' education and that the state role in education is primarily as a support to parents. We also believe that educational freedom is a necessary ingredient in providing the best education possible for each individual student.

click for more details

How Fast is Utah Spending Your Money?

Sutherland Journal of Law & Public Policy

The Sutherland Institute is a conservative public policy think tank committed to shaping Utah law and policy based on a core set of governing principles.

We strive to make Utah an example of good government for the rest of the nation and a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Limited Governments as the Essence of Good Government
Family as the Fundamental Unit of Society
Private Property as the Cornerstone of Economic Freedom
Charity as the Wellspring of a Caring Community
Religion as the Moral Compass of human progress
Free Markets as the Engine of Economic Prosperity
Personal Responsibility as the Basis of Self-Government

Policy Reports

WHAT IS A FAMILY-CENTERED ECONOMY?
Sound economic policy will fit the needs and requirements of Utah families, rather than seeking to make Utah families fit the needs of economic policy.
Download

Gambling Away Marriage in Utah: Why Utah Should Rethink No-fault Divorce
No-fault divorce in Utah has weakened the institution of marriage, perpetuated legal injustices, and exposed men, women, and children to a host of serious problems they may not have faced otherwise.
Download

Major Publications

Out of the Closet: A Candid Behind-the-Scenes Dialogue on Gay Rights Part 1
This candid email discussion of gay rights was published in 3 parts in order to provide civil discussion to an emotional issue. Part 1 addresses civil unions, sexual orientation, and hate crime laws.
Download

Out of the Closet: A Candid Behind-the-Scenes Dialogue on Gay Rights Part 2
This candid email discussion of gay rights was published in 3 parts in order to provide civil discussion to an emotional issue. Part 2 addresses gay identity and science issues.
Download

Legal Publications

Does the Family Have a Future?
William C. Duncan's North Dakota Law Review article gives the legal reason for defining marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman.
Download

Removing Classrooms from the Battlefield
Paul Mero and Daniel E. Witte explore the history of compulsory public education and its paternalistic roots. The article was published in the 2008 BYU Law Review.
Download

Essays and Speeches

FOSTERING EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION IN CHOICE-BASED MULTI-VENUE SETTINGS AND GOVERNMENT SINGLE-VENUE SE
Building a choice-based education system founded upon a solid civic structure will permit genuinely-innovative reform ideas to be considered, tested, and implemented in Utah schools.
Download

FOSTERING INNOVATION IN UTAH SCHOOLS: COMMON ELEMENTS OF EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS
Building a civic structure for Utah’s education system will permit genuinely-innovative reform ideas to be considered, tested, and implemented in Utah schools.
Download