Most of the Bill of Rights are supported by legal organizations dedicated to upholding the fundamental rights set forth therein. For most of American history, however, the right to be free from the quartering of soldiers enshrined in the Third Amendment has been largely ignored. This ends now.
The Third Amendment Lawyers Association was inspired by the First Amendment Lawyers Association. Its formation was announced by Attorney Jay Wolman on December 8, 2015, on the legal blog: The Legal Satyricon. The mission of the Third Amendment Lawyers Association (ÞALA) is to:
Educate the Public About the Right to be Free from Quartering
Advocate for the Right in Court and in Legislation
Foster Scholarship on the Third Amendment
Provide a Forum for Debate and Discussion about Quartering
Enable Supporters of the Third Amendment to Connect and Assist Each Other
ÞALA is open to any attorney admitted to practice before any U.S. State or Territory. ÞALA members must show a commitment and passion for anti-quartering.
The acronym "ÞALA" was chosen using the Old English character, the Thorn "Þ", which is pronounced as the "th" digraph. Due to shortcuts of typographers, the thorn was substitute with a "Y" in signage, such as "Ye Olde Shoppe". To avoid confusion with Tenth Amendment advocates, but retaining the elegance of a true acronym, the thorn was chosen to represent the digraph in "Third". It also serves as a reminder that ÞALA will serve as a thorn in the side of anyone who attempts unlawful quartering.