Supreme Court of the United States
Skip Navigation LinksHome > Search Results



Docket for 08-205
No. 08-205
Title:
Citizens United, Appellant
v.
Federal Election Commission
Docketed:August 18, 2008
Lower Ct:United States District Court for the District of Columbia
  Case Nos.:(07-2240)
  Decision Date:July 18, 2008
Questions Presented

~~~Date~~~ ~~~~~~~Proceedings  and  Orders~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aug 14 2008 Statement as to jurisdiction filed. (Response due September 17, 2008)
Sep 10 2008 Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 17, 2008.
Sep 17 2008 Brief amicus curiae of American Civil Rights Union filed.
Oct 17 2008 Motion to dismiss or affirm filed by appellee Federal Election Commission.
Oct 24 2008 Reply of appellant Citizens United filed. (Distributed)
Oct 29 2008 DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 14, 2008.
Nov 14 2008 PROBABLE JURISDICTION NOTED.
Dec 5 2008 Consent to the filing of amicus briefs, in support of either party or neither party, received from counsel for the appellant.
Dec 11 2008 The time within which to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 8, 2009.
Dec 11 2008 The time within which to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including February 17, 2009.
Jan 8 2009 Joint appendix filed. Statement of costs received.
Jan 8 2009 Brief of appellant Citizens United filed.
Jan 12 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Free Expression filed.
Jan 14 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Committee for Truth in Politics, Inc. filed.
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press filed.
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed.
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of National Rifle Association filed.
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defense Fund filed.
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America filed. (Distributed).
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of American Civil Rights Union filed.
Jan 15 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Center for Competitive Politics filed.
Jan 26 2009 SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, March 24, 2009.
Jan 27 2009 Record from the U.S.D.C. for the District of Columbia is electronically filed.
Jan 29 2009 CIRCULATED.
Feb 3 2009 Exhibits and CDs received from U.S.D.C. for the District of Columbia.
Feb 17 2009 Brief of appellee Federal Election Commission filed. (Distributed)
Feb 23 2009 Brief amici curiae of Center for Political Accountability, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Feb 24 2009 Brief amici curiae of Senator John McCain, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Mar 17 2009 Reply of appellant Citizens United, Appellant filed. (Distributed)
Mar 24 2009 Argued. For appellant: Theodore B. Olson, Washington, D.C. For appellee: Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
Jun 29 2009 This case is restored to the calendar for reargument. The parties are directed to file supplemental briefs addressing the following question: For the proper disposition of this case, should the Court overrule either or both Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 494 U.S. 652 (1990), and the part of McConnell v. Federal Election Comm'n, 540 U.S. 93 (2003), which addresses the facial validity of Section 203 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, 2 U.S.C. �441b? The briefs, not to exceed 6,000 words, are to be filed simultaneously with the Clerk and served upon opposing counsel on or before 2 p.m., Friday, July 24, 2009. Amicus briefs, not to exceed 4,500 words, may be filed with the Clerk and served upon counsel to the parties by 2 p.m., Friday, July 31, 2009. Reply briefs, not to exceed 3,000 words, may be filed with the Clerk and served upon opposing counsel on or before 2 p.m., Wednesday, August 19, 2009. The case is set for oral argument at 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 9, 2009.
Jul 21 2009 Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or neither party received from counsel for the appellee.
Jul 23 2009 Motion for divided argument filed by the Solicitor General.
Jul 24 2009 Supplemental brief of appellant Citizens United, Appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 24 2009 Supplemental brief of appellee Federal Election Commission filed. (Distributed)
Jul 24 2009 Supplemental brief amicus curiae of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 28 2009 Brief amici curiae of Seven Former Chairmen and One Former Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 29 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 29 2009 Brief amici curiae of Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 29 2009 Brief amici curiae of Center for Political Accountability, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 30 2009 Consent to the filing of amicus briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the appellant.
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America in support of appellant filed. (Distributed).
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of American Civil Liberties Union in support of the appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Independent Sector in support of neither party filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Montana, et al. in support of neither party filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Former Officials of the American Civil Liberties Union in support of neither party filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of California Broadcasters Association, et al. in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of American Justice Partnership, et al. in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Center for Competitive Politics in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Campaign Finance Scholars in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Fidelis Center for Law and Policy, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defense Fund in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Senator Mitch McConnell in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of National Rifle Association in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Michigan Chamber of Commerce in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of California First Amendment Coalition in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute in suport of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of American Civil Rights Union in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Wyoming Liberty Group, et al. in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Free Speech Defense and Education Fund, Inc., et al., in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Hachette Book Group, Inc., et al. in support of neither party filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations in support of appellant filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Committee for Economic Development in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Center for Independent Media, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Representatives Chris Van Hollen, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Norman Ornstein, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Justice at Stake, et al. in support of the appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Democratic National Committee in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Sunlight Foundation, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Campaign Legal Center, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of League of Women Voters of the United States, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Public Good in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amici curiae of Senator John McCain, et al. in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of American Independent Business Alliance in support of appellee filed. (Distributed)
Jul 31 2009 Motion of Senator Mitch McConnell for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Jul 31 2009 Brief amicus curiae of Judicial Watch, Inc. in support of appellant filed.
Aug 3 2009 Opposition of appellant to motion of Senator McConnell for divided argument.
Aug 10 2009 SET FOR REARGUMENT ON Wednesday, September 9, 2009.
Aug 17 2009 Motion of Senator Mitch McConnell for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Aug 17 2009 Motion for divided argument filed by the Solicitor General GRANTED. A total of 80 minutes is allocated for oral argument and the time is divided as follows: 30 minutes to appellant, 10 minutes to Senator Mitch McConnell, 30 minutes to appellee, and 10 minutes to Senator John McCain, et al.
Aug 18 2009 Motion of Wyoming Liberty Group, et al. in support of appellant for leave to participate in oral argument as amici curiae and for divided argument filed.
Aug 19 2009 Supplemental reply of appellant Citizens United, Appellant filed. (Distributed)
Aug 19 2009 Supplemental reply of appellee Federal Election Commission filed. (Distributed)
Sep 4 2009 Motion of Wyoming Liberty Group, et al. in support of appellant for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument DENIED.
Sep 9 2009 Argued. For appellant: Theodore B. Olson, Washington, D.C.; and Floyd Abrams, New York, N.Y., for Senator McConnell. For appellee: Elena Kagan, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., and Seth P. Waxman, Washington, D.C. for Senator McCain, et al.
Jan 21 2010 Adjudged to be AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, and case REMANDED. Kennedy, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Scalia and Alito, JJ., joined, in which Thomas, J., joined as to all but Part IV, and in which Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined as to Part IV. Roberts, C. J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Alito, J., joined. Scalia, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Alito, J., joined, and in which Thomas, J., joined in part. Stevens, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, in which Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part.
Feb 22 2010 JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Mar 30 2010 Exhibits & CS's returned to U.S.D.C. for District of Columbia.



~~Name~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    ~~~~~~~Address~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~Phone~~~
Attorneys for Appellant:
Theodore B. Olson Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP(202) 955-8500
    Counsel of Record1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC  20036
tolson@gibsondunn.com
Party name: Citizens United, Appellant
Attorneys for Appellee:
Elena Kagan Solicitor General(202) 514-2217
    Counsel of Record United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC  20530-0001
SupremeCtBriefs@USDOJ.gov
Party name: Federal Election Commission
 
Malcolm L. Stewart Deputy Solicitor General(202) 514-2201
Department of Justice
Washington, DC  20530
malcolm.l.stewart@usjoj.gov
Party name: Federal Election Commission
Other:
Floyd Abrams Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP(212) 701-3000
80 Pine Street
New York, NY  10005
fabrams@cahill.com
Party name: Senator Mitch McConnell in support of appellant
 
Jan Witold Baran Wiley Rein, LLP(202) 719-7000
1776 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20006
jbaran@wileyrein.com
Party name: Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America
 
Benjamin Barr Government Watch, PC(240)-863-8280
10737 Hunting Lane
Rockville, MD  20850
benjamin.barr@gmail.com
Party name: Wyoming Liberty Group, et al. in support of appellant
 
H. Christopher Bartolomucci Bancroft PLLC(202) 234-0090
1919 M Street, N.W., Suite 470
Washington, DC  20036
cbartolomucci@bancroftpllc.com
Party name: Norman Ornstein, et al. in support of appellee
 
Robert F. Bauer Perkins Coie LLP(202) 434-1602
700 13th St.
Suite 600
Washington, DC  20005
Party name: Democratic National Committee in support of appellee
 
James Bopp Jr. The Bopp Law Firm(812) 232-2434
1 South 6th Street
Terre Haute, IN  47807-3510
jboppjr@aol.com
Party name: Seven Former Chairmen and One Former Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission
 
Benjamin W. Bull Alliance Defending Freedom(480) 444-0020
15100 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ  85260
bbull@alliancedefendingfreedom.org
Party name: Alliance Defense Fund in support of appellant
 
Anthony T. Caso Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence(714) 628-2666
c/o Dale E. Fowler School of Law at Chapman University
One University Drive
Orange, CA  92886
caso@chapman.edu
Party name: Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
 
M. Devereux Chatillon Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP(212) 768-6700
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY  10020-1089
DChatillon@Sonnenschein.com
Party name: Independent Sector in support of neither party
 
Michael J. Chepiga Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP(212) 455-2000
425 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY  10017
Party name: Hachette Book Group, Inc. , et al. in support of neither party
 
Jeffrey D. Clements Clements Law Office LLC(978)-287-4901
Suite 4B-b
9 Damonmill Square
Concord, MA  01742
jclements@clementsllc.com
Party name: Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy, et al. in support of appellee
 
Charles J. Cooper Cooper & Kirk, PLLC(202) 220-9600
1523 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC  20036
ccooper@cooperkirk.com
Party name: National Rifle Association in support of appellant
 
Lucy A Dalglish Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press(703) 807-2100
1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
Arlington, VA  22209-2100
ldalglish@rcfp.org
Party name: Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (Supplemental)
 
Deborah Dewart 620 E. Sabiston Drive (910)-326-4554
Swansboro, NC  28584-9674
debcpalaw@earthlink.net
Party name: Foundation for Free Expression
 
Norman Dorsen Stokes Professor of Law(212) 998-6172
New York University School of Law
40 Washington Square South
New York, NY  10012
norman.dorsen@nyu.edu
Party name: Former Officials of the American Civil Liberties Union in support of neither partyi
 
Peter J. Ferrara 2011 Freedom Lane(703) 582-8466
Falls Church, VA  22043
peterferrara@msn.com
Party name: American Civil Rights Union
 
Patrick T. Gillen Fidelis Center for Law & Policy(312) 276-5109
190 South LaSalle Street
Suite 2130
Chicago, IL  60603
Party name: Fidelis Center for Law and Policy, et al.
 
Laurence E. Gold AFL-CIO(202) 637-5130
815 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20006
lgold@aflcio.org
Party name: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations in support of appellant
 
Allison R. Hayward Professor(703) 894-6800
Center for Competitive Politics
124 S. West Street, Suite 201
Alesandria, VA  22314
ahaward@campaignfreedom
Party name: Campaign Finance Scholars in support of appellant
 
Stephen M. Hoersting Center for Competitive Politics(703) 894-6800
124 S. West Street
Suite 201
Alexandria, VA  22314
shoersting@campaignfreedom.org
Party name: Center for Competitive Politics in support of appellant
 
Jean-Paul Jassy Bostwick & Jassy LLP(310) 979-6059
12400 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 400
Los Angeles, CA  90025
jpjassy@bostwickjassy.com
Party name: California First Amendment Coalition in support of appellant
 
Anthony Johnstone Solicitor(406)-444-2026
Montana Department of Justice
P.O.Box 201401
Helena, MT  59620-1401
ajohnstone@mt.gov
Party name: Montana, et al. in support of neither party
 
Deborah J. La Fetra Pacific Legal Foundation(916) 419-7111
930 G Street
Sacramento, CA  95814
djl@pacificlegal.org
Party name: Pacific Legal Foundation in support of appellant
 
William R. Maurer Institute for Justice(206) 341-9300
101 Yesler Way, Suite 603
Seattle, WA  98104
wmaurer@ij.org
Party name: Institute for Justice
 
Richard D. McLellan Dykema Gossett PLLC(517) 374-9181
201 Townsent Street
Suite 900
Lansing, MI  48933
Party name: Michigan Chamber of Commerce in support of appellant
 
Seth E. Mermin Public Good(510) 548-4064
3130 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA  94705
Party name: Public Good in support of appellee
 
Cleta Mitchell Act Right Legal Foundation(202) 683-9405
2029 K Street NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC  20006
cmitchell@actright.com
Party name: American Justice Partnership, et al. in support of appellant
 
Scott L. Nelson Public Citizen Litigation Group(202) 588-1000
1600 20th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20009
snelson@citizen.org
Party name: Senator John McCain, et al.
 
Lawrence H. Norton -Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice(202) 857-4429
1401 I Street, NW Seventh Floor
Washington, DC  20005
Party name: California Broadcasters Association, et al. in support of appellant
 
William J. Olson William J.Olson PC(703) 356-5070
370 Maple Avenue West, Suite 4
Vienna, VA  22180-5615
wjo@mindspring.com
Party name: Free Speech Defense and Education Fund, Inc., et al.
 
Paul J. Orfanedes Judicial Watch, Inc.(202) 646-5172
425 Third Street, S.W., Suite 800
Washington, DC  20024
porfanedes@judicialwatch.org
Party name: Judicial Watch, Inc.
 
Bradley S. Phillips Munger Tolles & Olson LLP(213) 683-9100
355 South Grand Avenue, 35th Floor
Los Angeles, CA  90071-1560
brad.phillips@mto.com
Party name: Representatives Chris Van Hollen, et al. in support of appellee
 
Trevor Potter Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered(202) 862-5092
1 Thomas Circle, N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, DC  20036
tpotter@capdale.com
Party name: Campaign Legal Center, et al. in support of appellee
 
Karl J. Sandstrom Perkins Coie LLP(202)-628-6600
607 14th Street NW 8th Floor
Washington, DC  20005
ksandstrom@perkinscoie.com
Party name: Center for Political Accountability, et al. in support of appellee
 
James Eckford Scarboro Arnold & Porter, LLP(303) 863-1000
370 17th Street, suite 4500
Denver, CO  80202
James.Scarboro@aporter.com
Party name: Justice at Stake, et al. in support of the appellee
 
Steven R. Shapiro American Civil Liberties Union Foundation(212) 549-2500
125 Broad Street
New York, NY  10004
sshapiro@aclu.org
Party name: American Civil Liberties Union in support of the appellant
 
Steven M. Simpson Institute for Justice(703) 682-9320
901 North Glebe Road
Suite 900
Arlington, VA  22203
ssimpson@ij.org
Party name: Institute for Justice in support of appellant
 
Paul M. Smith Jenner & Block LLP(202) 639-6000
1099 New York Avenue, N.W.
Suite 900
Washington, DC  20001
psmith@jenner.com
Party name: Committee for Economic Development in support of appellee
 
Gary S. Stein Pashman Stein PC(201) 488-8200
Court Plaza South
21 Main Street, Suite 100
Hackensack, NJ  07601
Party name: Sunlight Foundation, et al. in support of appellee
 
Seth P. Waxman Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP(202) 663-6000
1875 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC  20006
seth.waxman@wilmerhale.com
Party name: Senator John McCain, et al. in support of appellee
 
Benjamin D. Wood Patton Boggs LLP(202)-457-6000
2550 M Street, NW
Washington, DC  20037
www.pattonboggs.com
Party name: Cato Institute in suport of appellant
 
Brenda Wright 358 Chestnut Hill Avenue(617) 232-5885
Suite 303
Brighton, MA  02135
bwright@demos.org
Party name: American Independent Business Alliance in support of appellee
 
Elizabeth B. Wydra Constitutional Accountability Center(202) 296-6889
1200 18th St., N.W., Suite 501
Washington, DC  20036
elizabeth@theusconstitution.org
Party name: League of Women Voters of the United States, et al. in support of appellee
 
Monica Youn Brennan Center for Justice At NYU School of Law(212)-998-6730
161 Avenue of the Americas 12th Floor
New York, NY  10013
monica.youn@nyu.edu
Party name: Center for Independent Media, et al. in support of appellee

 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 1 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20543