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Williams-Yulee v. The Florida Bar

Docket No.13-1499
Op. BelowFla.
ArgumentJan 20, 2015
Vote5-4
AuthorJohn Roberts
OpinionApr 29, 2015
TermOctober Term 2014
SCOTUS PageOpinion

Holding

Florida's ban on the personal solicitation of campaign funds by candidates for judgeships does not violate the First Amendment.

Judgment

Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by John Roberts on Apr 29, 2015. Chief Justices Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court, except as to Part II. Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan joined that opinion in full, and Justice Ginsburg joined except as to Part II. Justice Breyer filed a concurring opinion. Justice Ginsburg filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Breyer joined as to Part II. Justice Scalia filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Thomas joined. Justice Kennedy and Justice Alito filed dissenting opinions.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Jun 17, 2014
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 18, 2014)
Jun 30, 2014
Waiver of right of respondent The Florida Bar to respond filed.
Jul 9, 2014
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 29, 2014.
Jul 24, 2014
Response Requested . (Due August 25, 2014)
Aug 22, 2014
Brief of respondent The Florida Bar in opposition filed.
Aug 26, 2014
Reply of petitioner Lanell Williams-Yulee filed.
Sep 3, 2014
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 29, 2014.
Oct 2, 2014
Petition GRANTED.
Nov 12, 2014
Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Lanell Williams-Yulee.
Nov 17, 2014
Brief of petitioner Lanell Williams-Yulee filed.
Nov 21, 2014
SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Nov 24, 2014
Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union, et al., filed.
Nov 24, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Randolph Wolfson, et al. filed.
Nov 24, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression filed.
Nov 24, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of Cameron A. Blau filed.
Dec 1, 2014
Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
Dec 2, 2014
Record requested from Supreme Court of Florida.
Dec 8, 2014
Record received from Supreme Court of Florida. The record is electronic.
Dec 12, 2014
CIRCULATED.
Dec 17, 2014
Brief of respondent The Florida Bar filed. (Distributed)Dec 19, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Free Speech for People, and James C. Nelson filed. (Distributed)Dec 22, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of Professor Jed Shugerman filed. (Distributed).Dec 23, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Professors of Law, Economics, and Political Science filed. (Distributed)Dec 23, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Public Citizen, Inc. and Democracy 21 filed. (Distributed).Dec 23, 2014
Brief amici curiae of States of Arizona, et al., filed. (Distributed)Dec 23, 2014
Brief amici curiae of State and Local Judicial Reform Groups filed. (Distributed)Dec 23, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, et al. filed. (Distributed)Dec 23, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of The Carter Center filed. (Distributed)Dec 24, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of Conference of Chief Justices filed. (Distributed)Dec 24, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Thomas R. Phillips, et al., filed. (Distributed).Dec 24, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Major B. Harding, et al., filed. (Distributed).Dec 24, 2014
Brief amicus curiae of American Bar Association filed. (Distributrd).Dec 24, 2014
Brief amici curiae of Norman Dorsen, et al., filed. (Distributed)Jan 13, 2015
Reply of petitioner Lanell Williams-Yulee filed. (Distributed)Jan 20, 2015
Argued. For petitioner: Andrew J. Pincus, Washington, D. C. For respondent, Barry Richard, Tallahassee, Fla.
Apr 29, 2015
Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, except as to Part II. Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined that opinion in full, and Ginsburg, J., joined except as to Part II. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion. Ginsburg, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Breyer, J., joined as to Part II. Scalia, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Thomas, J., joined. Kennedy, J., and Alito, J., filed dissenting opinions.
Jun 1, 2015
MANDATE ISSUED.

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