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Docket for 23-1122
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No. 23-1122
 
Title: Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al., Petitioners
v.
Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas
Docketed: April 16, 2024
Linked with: 23A925, 24A542
Lower Ct: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
   Case Numbers: (23-50627)
   Decision Date: March 7, 2024
Questions Presented
 
Proceedings and Orders
Apr 12 2024 Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 16, 2024)
Petition Appendix Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Apr 12 2024 Application (23A925) for a stay, submitted to Justice Alito.
Main Document Lower Court Orders/Opinions Proof of Service
Apr 17 2024 Response to application (23A925) requested by Justice Alito, due by 4 p.m. (EDT), on April 26, 2024.
Apr 26 2024 Response to application from respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas filed.
Main Document Proof of Service
Apr 29 2024 Reply of applicant Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed.
Reply Proof of Service
Apr 30 2024 Application (23A925) referred to the Court.
Apr 30 2024 Application (23A925) for stay presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is denied.
May 07 2024 Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 16, 2024 to June 17, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
Main Document
May 07 2024 Response to motion to extend the time to file a response from petitioners filed.
Main Document Proof of Service
May 08 2024 Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted in part and the time is extended to and including May 30, 2024.
May 16 2024 Brief amici curiae of American Booksellers for Free Expression, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
May 16 2024 Brief amicus curiae of International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
May 16 2024 Brief amici curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation and Woodhull Freedom Foundation filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
May 16 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
May 30 2024 Brief of respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas in opposition filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
May 31 2024 Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
Main Document Proof of Service
Jun 04 2024 DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/20/2024.
Jun 04 2024 Reply of petitioners Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Jun 28 2024 DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 7/1/2024.
Jul 02 2024 Petition GRANTED.
Jul 25 2024 Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
Main Document
Jul 31 2024 Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 16, 2024. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including November 15, 2024.
Sep 16 2024 Brief of petitioners Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 16 2024 Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Main Document Proof of Service
Sep 20 2024 Brief amici curiae of The Center for Democracy & Technology, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Atsign, Inc. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amicus curiae of International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amici curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amici curiae of National Coalition Against Censorship, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amici curiae of First Amendment Scholars filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amicus curiae of United States supporting vacatur filed.
Main Document Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Electronic Privacy Information Center in support of neither party filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2024 Brief amici curiae of Prof. Zachary Cantanzaro, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2024 Brief amici curiae of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2024 Brief amici curiae of American Booksellers for Free Expression, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Oct 31 2024 SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Nov 13 2024 Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Nov 15 2024 Brief of respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 15 2024 Brief amici curiae of State Legislators, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 18 2024 Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed.
Main Document Proof of Service
Nov 21 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defending Freedom filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Clare Morell and Bradford Littlejohn filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Age Verification Providers Association filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of American Foundation for Addiction Research, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Citizens Defending Freedom filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Council on Pornography Reform, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Justice Defense Fund filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Major Religious Organizations filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Exodus Cry, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Ohio, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of The Reward Foundation filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Yoti Ltd. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Minnesota Family Council, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Scholars filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of U.S. Senator Mike Lee, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Jaco Booyens Ministries, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of The Women's Liberation Front filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Louisiana State Representative, The Honorable Laurie Schlegel filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Members of the Texas Senate filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of The Matthew XVIII Group, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Social Science Scholars filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amici curiae of Scholars on the Neurological Effects of Pornography on Adolescents filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of American Principles Project filed.
Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service Main Document
Nov 22 2024 Amicus brief of Nurse Heidi Olson not accepted for filing. (December 02, 2024 - duplicate submission)
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Nurse Heidi Olson filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024 Brief amicus curiae of Them Before Us filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Nov 27 2024 Application of petitioners (24A542) to extend the time to file a reply brief on the merits from December 16, 2024 to December 23, 2024, submitted to Justice Alito.
Main Document Proof of Service
Dec 03 2024 CIRCULATED
Dec 06 2024 Application (24A542) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file petitioners' reply brief on the merits until December 23, 2024.
Dec 09 2024 Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument GRANTED.
Dec 23 2024 Reply of petitioners Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Jan 14 2025 Letter of respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas filed. (Distributed)
Main Document Other
Jan 14 2025 Letter of petitioners Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Main Document
Jan 15 2025 Argued. For petitioners: Derek L. Shaffer, Washington, D. C. For United States, as amicus curiae: Brian H. Fletcher, Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Aaron L. Nielson, Solicitor General, Austin, Tex.
Jan 16 2025 Record received electronically from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and available with the Clerk.
Jun 27 2025 Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, JJ., joined. Kagan, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Sotomayor and Jackson, JJ., joined.
Jul 29 2025 Judgment Issued.
Main Document
Attorneys
Attorneys for Petitioners
Derek L. Shaffer
Counsel of Record
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
1300 I Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005

DEREKSHAFFER@QUINNEMANUEL.COM
Ph: (202) 538-8000
Party name: Free Speech Coalition, et al.


Attorneys for Respondents
Aaron Lloyd Nielson
Counsel of Record
Office of the Texas Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548 (MC-059)
Austin, TX 78711-2548

aaron.nielson@oag.texas.gov
Ph: 512-936-1700
Party name: Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas


Other Attorneys
Amer Shahid Ahmed
Counsel of Record
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166

aahmed@gibsondunn.com
Ph: (212) 351-2427
Party name: International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children


Kenneth A. Bamberger
Counsel of Record
University of California, Berkeley
School of Law
Law Building 446 (North Addition)
Berkeley, CA 94720

kbamberger@berkeley.edu
Ph: 5106436218
Party name: American Booksellers for Free Expression, Association of American Publishers, Inc., Authors Guild, Inc., Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and Freedom to Read Foundation


Thomas Arthur Berry
Counsel of Record
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001

tberry@cato.org
Ph: (202) 789-5202
Party name: Cato Institute


Anna Aleksandrovna Bidwell
Institute for Justice
901 N. Glebe Rd.
Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203

ABIDWELL@IJ.ORG
Ph: 7036829320
Party name: Institute for Justice


Andrew Stephen Bruns
Counsel of Record
Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP
633 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

abruns@keker.com
Ph: 415-391-5400
Party name: The Center for Democracy & Technology, New America’s Open Technology Institute, The Internet Society, Professor Daniel Weitzner, Professor Sarah Scheffler


John J. Bursch
Counsel of Record
Alliance Defending Freedom
440 First Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20001

jbursch@adflegal.org
Ph: (616) 450-4235
Party name: Alliance Defending Freedom


Alan Jay Butler
Counsel of Record
Electronic Privacy Information Center
1519 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

butler@epic.org
Ph: 2024831140
Party name: Electronic Privacy Information Center


D. Adam Candeub
Counsel of Record
Michigan State University College of Law
648 N. Shaw Lane
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300

candeub@msu.edu
Ph: 517 918 7147
Party name: Scholars


Renee Kristine Carlson
Counsel of Record
True North Legal
525 Park Street, Suite 460
St. Paul, MN 55103

rcarlson@truenorthlegalmn.org
Ph: 651-363-4547
Party name: Minnesota Family Council, Kansas Family Voice, Texas Values, and Thirty State Family Policy Organizations


James Ryan Conde
Counsel of Record
Boyden Gray PLLC
800 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

jconde@boydengray.com
Ph: 2029550620
Party name: The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and Technology Scholars


James Ryan Conde
Counsel of Record
Boyden Gray PLLC
800 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

jconde@boydengray.com
Ph: 2029550620
Party name: Social Science Scholars


Theodore Mark Cooperstein
Counsel of Record
Theodore Cooperstein PLLC
1888 Main Street
Suite C-203
Madison, MS 39110

ted@appealslawyer.us
Ph: 6013972471
Party name: American Principles Project


Robert Lawrence Corn-Revere
Counsel of Record
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Suite 340
Washington, DC 20003

bob.corn-revere@thefire.org
Ph: 215-717-3473
Party name: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression


Elspeth Benten Cypher
Counsel of Record
Supreme Judicial Court
1802 Vernon St.,NW #2036
Washington, DC 20009

elspeth@womensliberationfront.org
Ph: 2025079475
Party name: The Women's Liberation Front


Trey Christian Dellinger
Counsel of Record
AFA Action, Inc.
108 Parkgate Drive
Tupelo, MS 38801

trdellinger@afa.net
Ph: 662-821-2024
Party name: State Legislators, American Family Association, Inc., and AFA Action, Inc.


Ronan P. Doherty
Counsel of Record
Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP
3900 One Atlantic Center
1201 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30309

doherty@bmelaw.com
Ph: (404) 881-4100
Party name: Prof. Zachary Cantanzaro, et al.


Benjamin Michael Flowers
Counsel of Record
Ashbrook Byrne Kresge LLC
PO Box 8248
Cincinnati , OH 45249

bflowers@ashbrookbk.com
Ph: 513-201-5775
Party name: Them Before Us


Thomas Elliot Gaiser
Counsel of Record
Office of the Ohio Attorney General
30 E. Broad St., 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

thomas.gaiser@ohioago.gov
Ph: 6144668980
Party name: States of Ohio, Indiana, and 22 Other States


Peter Andrew Gentala
Counsel of Record
National Center of Sexual Exploitation
1201 F. St., NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20004

pgentala@ncoselaw.org
Ph: (202) 393-7245
Party name: Members of the Texas Senate


Derek T. Ho
Counsel of Record
Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C.
1615 M Street, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036

dho@kellogghansen.com
Ph: 202-326-7931
Party name: Atsign, Inc.


Eric Nieuwenhuis Kniffin
Counsel of Record
Ethics and Public Policy Center
1730 M Street N.W.
Suite 910
Washington, DC 20036

ekniffin@eppc.org
Ph: 2026281200
Party name: Clare Morell and Bradford Littlejohn


Aaron David Mackey
Counsel of Record
Electronic Frontier Foundation
815 Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

AMACKEY@EFF.ORG
Ph: 415 436 9333
Party name: Electronic Frontier Foundation and Woodhull Freedom Foundation


James R. Marsh
Counsel of Record
Marsh Law Firm PLlC
31 Hudson Yards
11th Floor
New York, NY 10001

jamesmarsh@marsh.law
Ph: 2123723030
Party name: Yoti Ltd.


Aaron Thomas Martin
Counsel of Record
Martin Law & Mediation PLLC
2415 East Camelback, Suite 700
Phoenix, AZ 85016

aaron@martinlawandmediation.com
Ph: (602) 812-2680
Party name: Exodus Cry, Stand With Survivors and Protect Young Eyes


Mary Elizabeth McAlister
Counsel of Record
Child & Parental Rights Campaign, Inc.
5805 State Bridge Rd., Suite G310
Johns Creek, GA 30097

mmcalister@childparentrights.org
Ph: 770 448 4525
Party name: The Matthew XVIII Group and The Reisman Institute


Charles Luther McCloud
Counsel of Record
Williams & Connolly LLP
680 Maine Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20024

lmccloud@wc.com
Ph: 202-434-5586
Party name: National Coalition Against Censorship et al.


Stephen Chad Meredith
Counsel of Record
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
201 E. Fourth St.
Suite 1900
Cincinnati, OH 45202

chad.meredith@squirepb.com
Ph: 513-361-1235
Party name: Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Baptist General Convention of Texas


Erin Elizabeth Mersino
Counsel of Record
The Muise Law Group, PLLC
P.O. Box 131098
Ann Arbor, MI 48113

info@muiselawgroup.com
Ph: (734) 635-3756
Party name: Citizens Defending Freedom


William Jeffrey Olson
Counsel of Record
William J. Olson, P.C.
370 Maple Ave. W., Suite 4
Vienna, VA 22180

WJO@MINDSPRING.COM
Ph: 7033565070
Party name: Council on Pornography Reform, America's Future, Public Advocate of the United States, U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Defense Fund, and Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund


Michael Steven Overing
Counsel of Record
Law Offices of Michael S. Overing, APC
790 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 320
Pasadena, CA 91101

movering@digitalmedialaw.com
Ph: 6265648600
Party name: Justice Defense Fund


Patrick Francis Philbin
Counsel of Record
Torridon Law PLLC
801 Seventeenth Street, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006

pphilbin@torridonlaw.com
Ph: (202) 249-6900
Party name: U.S. Senator Mike Lee, Senator John Cornyn, Representative Chip Roy, and 20 Other Members of Congress


Jennifer Marie Safstrom
Counsel of Record
Vanderbilt Law School
131 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203-1181

jennifer.safstrom@vanderbilt.edu
Ph: (615) 322-4964
Party name: First Amendment Scholars


D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

SUPREMECTBRIEFS@USDOJ.GOV
Ph: 202-514-2217
Party name: United States


Gene Clayton Schaerr
Counsel of Record
Schaerr | Jaffe
1717 K Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

GSCHAERR@SCHAERR-JAFFE.COM
Ph: 202-787-1060
Party name: Major Religious Organizations


Lawrence B. Shallcross Jr.
Counsel of Record
L.B Shallcross & Associates
2631 Bulverde Rd., Ste. 101
Bulverde, TX 78163

larry@lbshallcross.com
Ph: 830-980-5757
Party name: Jaco Booyens Ministries, Ilonka Deaton, and Tami Brown Rodriquez


Paul Michael Sherman
Counsel of Record
Institute for Justice
901 North Glebe Road
Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203

PSHERMAN@IJ.ORG
Ph: 7036829320
Party name: Institute for Justice


Corey Dustin Silverstein
Counsel of Record
Silverstein Legal
30150 Telegraph Road, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

corey@silversteinlegal.com
Ph: 248-290-0655
Party name: Woodhull Freedom Foundation


Corey Dustin Silverstein
Silverstein Legal
30150 Telegraph Road, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

corey@silversteinlegal.com
Ph: 248-290-0655
Party name: Electronic Frontier Foundation


Scott Lehman Sternberg
Counsel of Record
Sternberg, Naccari, and White, LLC
935 Gravier St. Ste. 1800
New Orleans, LA 70112

scott@snw.law
Ph: 504-324-2141
Party name: Louisiana State Representative, The Honorable Laurie Schlegel


Aaron Michael Streett
Counsel of Record
Baker Botts, L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002

AARON.STREETT@BAKERBOTTS.COM
Ph: 7132291855
Party name: Age Verification Providers Association


Daniel Robert Suhr
Counsel of Record
Center for American Rights
747 N LaSalle Street
Suite 210
Chicago, IL 60654

dsuhr@americanrights.org
Ph: 4145881658
Party name: American Foundation for Addiction Research, et al.


John Clay Sullivan
Counsel of Record
S|L Law PLLC
610 Uptown Blvd., Suite 2000
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

john.sullivan@the-sl-lawfirm.com
Ph: (469) 523-1351
Party name: Scholars on the Neurological Effects of Pornography on Adolescents


Joel L Thayer
Counsel of Record
Thayer, PLLC
1255 Union Street NE, Seventh Floor
Washington, DC 20002

jthayer@thayer.tech
Ph: 7606680934
Party name: The Reward Foundation


Kevin S. Toll
Silverstein Legal
30150 Telegraph Road
Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

kevin@silversteinlegal.com
Ph: (248) 290-0655
Party name: Electronic Frontier Foundation and Woodhull Freedom Foundation


Jeffrey Albert Wald
Counsel of Record
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
380 Knollwood Street, Suite 530
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

jeffrey.wald@nelsonmullins.com
Ph: 336-774-3335
Party name: Nurse Heidi Olson


Lawrence G. Walters
Walters Law Group
195 W. Pine Avenue
Longwood, FL 32750

larry@firstamendment.com
Ph: (407) 975-9150
Party name: Woodhull Freedom Foundation


 

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