No. 19-608

Mark Elster, et al. v. City of Seattle, Washington

Lower Court: Washington
Docketed: 2019-11-12
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (3)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (3) Experienced Counsel
Tags: campaign-finance civil-rights compelled-subsidy constitutional-review first-amendment free-speech property-levy rational-basis speech-funding standing
Key Terms:
FirstAmendment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2020-03-27 (distributed 3 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a levy that forces property owners to fund other individuals' campaign donations implicates the First Amendment's compelled-subsidy doctrine

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Seattle’s “democracy voucher” program establishes a dedicated property levy used solely to fund individual contributions from Seattle residents to the political campaigns of participating candidates. The questions presented are: 1. Whether a levy that forces property owners to fund other individuals’ campaign donations implicates the First Amendment’s compelled-subsidy doctrine. 2. Whether a compelled subsidy of speech should be examined under rational basis review, as the decision below concluded, or whether a higher standard of review is appropriate.

Docket Entries

2020-03-30
Petition DENIED.
2020-03-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/27/2020.
2020-03-18
Rescheduled.
2020-02-26
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/20/2020.
2020-02-21
Reply of petitioners Mark Elster, et al. filed.
2020-02-10
Brief of respondent City of Seattle, Washington in opposition filed.
2020-01-09
Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
2020-01-09
Brief amici curiae of American Association of Christian Schools, et al filed.
2019-12-18
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including February 10, 2020.
2019-12-16
Motion to extend the time to file a response from January 9, 2020 to February 10, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-12-12
Brief amicus curiae of Goldwater Institute filed.
2019-12-10
Response Requested. (Due January 9, 2020)
2019-12-04
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/10/2020.
2019-11-26
Waiver of right of respondent City of Seattle, Washington to respond filed.
2019-11-20
Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, City of Seattle, Washington.
2019-11-18
Blanket Consent filed by Petitioners, Mark Elster, et al.
2019-11-07
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 12, 2019)
2019-09-26
Application (19A345) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until November 8, 2019.
2019-09-24
Application (19A345) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from October 9, 2019 to November 8, 2019, submitted to Justice Kagan.

Attorneys

American Association of Christian Schools, et al
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Amicus
John J. BurschAlliance Defending Freedom, Amicus
Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Anthony Thomas CasoCenter for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Amicus
Anthony Thomas CasoCenter for Constitutional Jurisprudence, Amicus
City of Seattle, Washington
Roger D. WynneSeattle City Attorney's Office, Respondent
Roger D. WynneSeattle City Attorney's Office, Respondent
Goldwater Institute
Jacob H. HuebertGoldwater institute, Amicus
Jacob H. HuebertGoldwater institute, Amicus
Mark Elster, et al.
Ethan Winfred BlevinsPacific Legal Foundation, Petitioner
Ethan Winfred BlevinsPacific Legal Foundation, Petitioner