Supreme Court Briefing: Williams-Yulee vs. The Florida Bar

On Thursday, January 8, 2015 the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS), in partnership with the Brennan Center for Justice and Justice at Stake hosted a panel discussion at the National Press Club where a diverse group of experts offered their insights on Williams-Yulee v. The Florida Bar. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the case January 20, which concerns the balance between the right to free speech and the compelling state interest in preserving public confidence in the courts. This case could determine whether candidates for judicial office possess a constitutional right to directly solicit campaign contributions from potential donors.   

 Andrew Cohen, contributing editor at The Atlantic, legal analyst for 60 Minutes and CBS Radio News, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, and commentary editor at The Marshall Project moderated the disdcussion, and Matthew Menendez, counsel of the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, Scott Greytak, policy counsel and research analyst at Justice at Stake, Tracey George, professor of law and political science at Vanderbilt University and participant in an amicus brief by empirical scholars, and Ed Whelan, president, Ethics and Public Policy Center and blogger on National Review Online’s Bench Memos, joined the panel.