Skip to content

Austin v. Illinois

Petition for certiorari denied on October 5, 2020

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
19-1029 Ill. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2020

Issue: (1) Whether strict First Amendment scrutiny applies to a criminal law that prohibits nonconsensual dissemination of non-obscene nude or sexually oriented visual material; and (2) whether the First Amendment requires a law that prohibits nonconsensual dissemination of non-obscene nude or sexually oriented visual material to impose a requirement of specific intent to harm or harass the individual(s) depicted.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
01/10/2020Application (19A777) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from January 16, 2020 to February 14, 2020, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.
01/14/2020Application (19A777) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until February 14, 2020.
02/14/2020Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 20, 2020)
03/04/2020Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Bethany Austin.
03/19/2020Waiver of right of respondent Illinois to respond filed.
03/19/2020Brief amici curiae of American Booksellers Association, et al. filed.
03/20/2020Letter of Bethany Austin not accepted for filing. (March 20, 2020 - Corrected version to be submitted)
03/20/2020Letter of petitioner Bethany Austin received.
03/20/2020Brief amici curiae of The Cato Institute filed.
03/20/2020Brief amici curiae of First Amendment Lawyers Association and the Marion B. Brechner First Amendment Project filed.
03/20/2020Brief amicus curiae of Woodhull Freedom Foundation filed.
03/20/2020Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed.
03/25/2020DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/17/2020.
04/02/2020Response Requested. (Due May 4, 2020)
04/24/2020Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 4, 2020 to July 3, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
04/27/2020Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including July 6, 2020. See Rule 30.1.
07/06/2020Brief of respondent State of Illinois in opposition filed.
07/22/2020DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2020.
07/27/2020Reply of petitioner Bethany Austin filed. (Distributed)
10/05/2020Petition DENIED.