TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

Florida’s Ban Stands: People Running for Judge Cannot Ask for Campaign Funds

Posted by: Suzanne Craig Robertson on Apr 29, 2015
News Type: U.S. Supreme Court

In a 5-4 decision today in Williams Yulee v. The Florida State Bar, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ban on direct solicitation of campaign donations by judicial candidates. The case asked the court to consider a First Amendment challenge to a Florida rule that prohibits judicial candidates from personally soliciting campaign contributions. In her concurring opinion, Justice Ginsburg cited a poll commissioned by Justice at Stake and the Brennan Center for Justice noting that 87 percent of voters believe advertisements purchased by interest groups during judicial elections can have either “some” or “a great deal” of influence on an elected judge’s later decisions. "Today’s decision helps judges, by saving them from the compromising job of raising cash from people whose cases they will decide," Justice at Stake Executive Director Bert Brandenburg said. "And it helps the public, by reassuring them that they will not find themselves in court before a judge who has received a check directly from the opposing party in their case.” American Bar Association President William C. Hubbard praised the ruling, saying it "underscores the importance of an independent judiciary to the rule of law."  SCOTUSBlog and ABA Journal have more.

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