United States v. Stevens
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08-769 | 3rd Cir. | Oct 6, 2009 | Apr 30, 2025 | 8-1 | Roberts | OT 2009 |
Holding: A federal statute that criminalizes depictions of animal cruelty in videotapes and other commercial media is unconstitutional.
Judgment: Affirmed, 8-1, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on April 30, 2025. Justice Alito dissented.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- The Roberts Court and the First Amendment (Ronald Collins, July 9, 2013)
- First Amendment left intact (Lyle Denniston, April 20, 2010)
- Analysis: Animal cruelty law in trouble (Lyle Denniston, October 6, 2009)
- Argument Preview: U.S. v. Stevens (Kristina Moore, August 10, 2009)
- Court to rule on First Amendment exception (Lyle Denniston, April 20, 2009)
Briefs and Documents
Merits Briefs
- Brief for Petitioner United States of America
- Brief for Respondent Robert Stevens
- Reply brief for Petitioner United States
Amicus Briefs
- Brief for The Center on the Administration of Criminal Law in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for The Northwest Animal Rights Network in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for The Humane Society of the United States in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for The Animal Legal Defense Fund in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for International Society for Animal Rights in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Washington Legal Foundation and the Allied Education Foundation in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc., in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Association of American Publishers, Inc., the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American University Presses, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Entertainment Consumers Association, Entertainment Merchants Association, Film Independent, Freedom to Read Foundation, Independent Book Publishers Association, Independent Filmmakers Project, Independent Film & Television Alliance, The International Documentary Association, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, the National Association of Theater Owners, Inc., and Pen American Center, in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Thirteen News Media Organizations in Support of Respondent
- Brief for The Professional Outdoor Media Association, the American Society of Media Photographers, the North American Nature Photography Association, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, and the Texas Outdoor Writers Association in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the National Rife Association of America, Inc., in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the 1st Amendment Lawyers in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the DKT Liberty Project, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for Democracy and Technology in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Safari Club International and the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the National Coalition Against Censorship and the College Art Association in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the CATO Institute in Support of Respondent
- Brief for Endangered Breed Association and American Dog Breeders Association in Support of Respondent
- Brief for A Group of American Law Professors in Support of Neither Party
Merits Briefs
- Brief for Petitioner United States of America
- Brief for Respondent Robert Stevens
- Reply brief for Petitioner United States
Amicus Briefs
- Brief for The Center on the Administration of Criminal Law in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for The Northwest Animal Rights Network in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for The Humane Society of the United States in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for The Animal Legal Defense Fund in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for International Society for Animal Rights in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Washington Legal Foundation and the Allied Education Foundation in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc., in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Association of American Publishers, Inc., the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American University Presses, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Entertainment Consumers Association, Entertainment Merchants Association, Film Independent, Freedom to Read Foundation, Independent Book Publishers Association, Independent Filmmakers Project, Independent Film & Television Alliance, The International Documentary Association, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, the National Association of Theater Owners, Inc., and Pen American Center, in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Thirteen News Media Organizations in Support of Respondent
- Brief for The Professional Outdoor Media Association, the American Society of Media Photographers, the North American Nature Photography Association, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, and the Texas Outdoor Writers Association in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the National Rife Association of America, Inc., in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the 1st Amendment Lawyers in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the DKT Liberty Project, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for Democracy and Technology in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Safari Club International and the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the National Coalition Against Censorship and the College Art Association in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the CATO Institute in Support of Respondent
- Brief for Endangered Breed Association and American Dog Breeders Association in Support of Respondent
- Brief for A Group of American Law Professors in Support of Neither Party