From Cliffs to Courtrooms: Base Jumpers Take on the Administrative State

Is it a crime to jump off a cliff in a national park? The National Park Service seems to think so. In this episode of Unwritten Law, hosts Mark Chenoweth and John Vecchione sit down with NCLA’s Casey Norman to discuss NCLA’s 100th case—a legal challenge to the Park Service’s unconstitutional ban on base jumping.

The lawsuit exposes a bigger issue: how unelected bureaucrats create criminal laws without congressional approval. From vague regulations to arbitrary enforcement, this case isn’t just about adventure sports—it’s about stopping executive agencies from making up the rules as they go.