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Comment by lonnyk | Hacker News Reader

What are the estimated costs of getting a lawsuit to the Supreme Court?

I'd love to know that too. I just threw in $100 (via the donation button on the top right of the linked article), but I'm glad to donate more if he needs it.

I really wish I had time to tilt at this particular windmill, so I'm very grateful that this fellow is being so relentless.

Thank you for that! The cost in filing fees, printing, and mailing for SCOTUS I estimate to be near $2K. If it's accepted, I need to travel to DC for oral arguments. All this in addition to dozens (or more) hours of missed work in order to research, write, and handle things.

Even if I got no donations, I would self-fund this suit, so no worries about donating more... anything anyone wants to contribute is much appreciated!

I'd encourage you to get a professional lawyer with supreme court experience involved in this. Perhaps the EFF can recommend someone?

just FYI, the idiom "tilting at windmills" implies an imaginary opponent. TSA is very much real, unfortunately.

"Tilting at windmills is an English idiom which means attacking imaginary enemies, or fighting unwinnable or futile battles."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilting_at_windmills

isn't it from Don Quixote?

Yes, it is.

That's a poor definition which you won't find repeated in any other reference (really, take a look). The entirety of the meaning of the idiom concerns the misperception of ones opponents.

That's incorrect. A number of other sources say that it also means exactly what I mean: "to pursue an unrealistic, impractical, or impossible goal". E.g.:

http://www.word-detective.com/2009/03/10/tilting-at-windmill...

A quick peek at Google News also shows plenty of people using it that way:

E.g.:

http://articles.mcall.com/2012-03-08/news/mc-pat-toomey-jobs... http://jurist.org/forum/2012/02/brian-landsberg-affirmative-... http://www.idahoreporter.com/2012/barbieri-wont-run-anti-tsa...

You should get some assistance from the ACLU or similar organization because you are not a lawyer and you will end up spinning your wheels. The U.S. Supreme Court only hears 150 or so cases each year. Except in a very small range of cases (such as cases between states) they are not obligated to hear any cases. You would have much better luck with the Court of Appeals. If the facts are not developed on appeal, you can ask the Court to appoint a special master. The matters you raise are important and merit judicial consideration. But get a professional to help.

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