No. 22-555

NetChoice, LLC, dba NetChoice, et al. v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2022-12-19
Status: Judgment Issued
Type: Paid
CVSGAmici (8)Relisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: content-moderation editorial-discretion first-amendment free-speech free-speech-rights social-media social-media-regulation viewpoint-discrimination
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw Antitrust FirstAmendment Securities Privacy JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2023-09-26 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the First Amendment prohibits viewpoint-, content-, or speaker-based laws restricting select websites from engaging in editorial choices about whether, and how, to publish and disseminate speech—or otherwise burdening those editorial choices through onerous operational and disclosure requirements

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED Throughout our Nation’s history, the First Amendment’s freedoms of speech and press have protected private entities’ rights to choose whether and how to publish and disseminate speech generated by others. E.g., Manhattan Cmty. Access Corp. v. Halleck, 139 S. Ct. 1921, 1930 (2019); Hurley v. Irish-Am. Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Grp. of Boston, 515 U.S. 557, 570, 575 (1995); Miami Herald Publ’g Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241, 258 (1974). Over two decades ago, this Court held there is “no basis for qualifying the level of First Amendment scrutiny that should be applied to” speech disseminated on “the Internet.” Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844, 870 (1997). Today, many Internet websites publish and disseminate curated collections of expression generated by themselves and others. Nevertheless, the State of Texas—much like Florida before it—has enacted a viewpoint-, content-, and speaker-based law (House Bill 20 or “HB20”) targeting certain disfavored “social media” websites. HB20 Section 7 prohibits these websites from making editorial choices based on “viewpoint.” And HB20 Section 2 imposes on these websites burdensome operational and disclosure requirements, chilling their editorial choices. This Court has already ensured once that Respondent cannot enforce this law against Petitioners’ members. NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton, 142 S. Ct. 1715, 1715-16 (2022). The question presented is whether the First Amendment prohibits viewpoint-, content-, or speaker-based laws restricting select websites from engaging in editorial choices about whether, and how, to publish and disseminate speech—or otherwise burdening those editorial choices through onerous operational and disclosure requirements. (i)

Docket Entries

2024-08-02
Judgment Issued.
2024-07-01
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Sotomayor, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, JJ., joined in full, and in which Jackson, J., joined as to Parts I, II and III-A. Barrett, J., filed a concurring opinion. Jackson, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. (Opinion together with No. 22-277).
2024-07-01
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-277new_8mjp.pdf'>opinion</a> of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Sotomayor, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, JJ., joined in full, and in which Jackson, J., joined as to Parts I, II and III-A. Barrett, J., filed a concurring opinion. Jackson, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. (Opinion together with No. 22-277).
2024-02-26
Argued. For petitioners: Paul D. Clement, Alexandria, Va.; and Elizabeth B. Prelogar, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondent: Aaron L. Nielson, Solicitor General, Austin, Tex.
2024-02-16
Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
2024-02-15
Reply of petitioners NetChoice, LLC, dba NetChoice, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2024-01-30
Record received from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. The record is electronic and is available with the Clerk.
2024-01-23
2024-01-23
Brief amicus curiae of Life Legal Defense Foundation filed. (Distributed)
2024-01-23
2024-01-23
2024-01-23
Brief amicus curiae of Students at Columbia Against Censorship filed. (Distributed)
2024-01-22
Motion of United States for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
2024-01-22
Brief amicus curiae of Professor Philip Hamburger filed. (Distributed)
2024-01-19
Record requested from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
2024-01-18
Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
2024-01-16
Brief of respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas filed. (Distributed)
2024-01-11
CIRCULATED.
2024-01-10
Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
2024-01-05
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, February 26, 2024.
2023-12-07
Brief amicus curiae of Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies filed.
2023-11-30
2023-11-30
Joint appendix filed.
2023-11-30
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of cost filed.)
2023-10-10
The following briefing schedule is adopted: Respondents in No. 22-277 and petitioners in No. 22-555 shall file opening briefs on the merits on or before Thursday, November 30, 2023, and the briefs shall bear a light blue cover. Any brief of an amicus curiae in support or in support of neither party shall be filed on or before Thursday, December 7, 2023, and the brief shall bear a light green cover. Petitioners in No. 22-277 and respondents in No. 22-555 shall file response briefs on the merits on or before Tuesday, January 16, 2024, and those briefs shall bear a light red cover. Any brief of an amicus curiae in support shall be filed on or before Tuesday, January 23, 2024, and the briefs shall bear a dark green cover. Reply briefs shall be filed in compliance with Rule 25.3, and the briefs shall bear a yellow cover. An amicus curiae shall file only a single brief in these cases.
2023-09-29
Petition GRANTED limited to Questions 1 and 2 presented by the Solicitor General in her brief for the United States as amicus curiae.
2023-08-30
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/26/2023.
2023-08-30
Supplemental brief of petitioners NetChoice, LLC, dba NetChoice, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2023-08-28
Supplemental brief of respondent Angela Colmenero, in her Official Capacity as Provisional Attorney General of Texas filed. (Distributed)
2023-01-23
The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
2023-01-04
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/20/2023.
2023-01-03
Reply of petitioners NetChoice, LLC, dba NetChoice, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2022-12-20
Response to petition from respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas filed.
2022-12-20
Letter dated December 20, 2022, from counsel for respondent filed.
2022-12-15
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 18, 2023)

Attorneys

American Center for Law and Justice
Jay Alan Sekulow — Amicus
Jay Alan Sekulow — Amicus
Walter M. WeberAmerican Center for Law & Justice, Amicus
Walter M. WeberAmerican Center for Law & Justice, Amicus
American Jewish Committee
Aaron Edgar NathanWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Amicus
Aaron Edgar NathanWillkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Amicus
American Principles Project
Theodore Mark CoopersteinTheodore Cooperstein PLLC, Amicus
Theodore Mark CoopersteinTheodore Cooperstein PLLC, Amicus
Americans for Prosperity Foundation
Cynthia Fleming CrawfordAmericans for Prosperity Foundation, Amicus
Cynthia Fleming CrawfordAmericans for Prosperity Foundation, Amicus
Amicus Curiae International Center for Law & Economics
Constance Lynn PfeifferYetter Coleman LLP, Amicus
Constance Lynn PfeifferYetter Coleman LLP, Amicus
Amicus Populi
Mitchell KeiterKeiter Appellate Law, Amicus
Mitchell KeiterKeiter Appellate Law, Amicus
Angela Colmenero, in her Official Capacity as Provisional Attorney General of Texas
Lanora Christine PettitOffice of the Texas Attorney General, Respondent
Lanora Christine PettitOffice of the Texas Attorney General, Respondent
Article 19: Global Campaign for Free Expression
Megan Marie CokerTillotson Johnson & Patton LLP, Amicus
Megan Marie CokerTillotson Johnson & Patton LLP, Amicus
Babylon Bee and Not the Bee
Patrick StrawbridgeConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Amicus
Patrick StrawbridgeConsovoy McCarthy PLLC, Amicus
Bluesky, a Public Benefit Corporation, M. Chris Riley, an individual, and Floor64, Inc. d/b/a the Copia Institute
Catherine Rachel GellisAttorney at Law, Amicus
Catherine Rachel GellisAttorney at Law, Amicus
Cato Institute
Thomas Arthur BerryCato Institute, Amicus
Thomas Arthur BerryCato Institute, Amicus
Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
Anthony Thomas CasoConstitutional Counsel Group, Amicus
Anthony Thomas CasoConstitutional Counsel Group, Amicus
Center for Democracy & Technology
Andrew John PincusMayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Andrew John PincusMayer Brown LLP, Amicus
Center for Growth and Opportunity, et al.
Andrew C. NicholsCharis Lex P.C., Amicus
Andrew C. NicholsCharis Lex P.C., Amicus
Center for Renewing America
Richard A. Epstein — Amicus
Richard A. Epstein — Amicus
Center for Social Media and Politics at New York University et al.
Jacob Mandell KarrWashington Square Legal Svcs at NYU Sch of Law, Amicus
Jacob Mandell KarrWashington Square Legal Svcs at NYU Sch of Law, Amicus
Chamber of Progress et al.
Mark William BrennanHogan Lovells US LLP, Amicus
Mark William BrennanHogan Lovells US LLP, Amicus
Children’s Health Defense
Mary HollandChildren's Health Defense, Amicus
Mary HollandChildren's Health Defense, Amicus
David Mamet
Marc Arthur GreendorferZachor Legal Institute, Amicus
Marc Arthur GreendorferZachor Legal Institute, Amicus
Developers Alliance and Software & Information Industry Association
Ari Benjamin Asher HoltzblattWilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Amicus
Ari Benjamin Asher HoltzblattWilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Amicus
Discord Inc.
Rebecca Leah TushnetLex Lumina PLLC, Amicus
Rebecca Leah TushnetLex Lumina PLLC, Amicus
Donald W. Landry
Joel Bernard ArdArd Law Group PLLC, Amicus
Joel Bernard ArdArd Law Group PLLC, Amicus
Dr. Christos A. Makridis
Jonathan Shae GoldsteinGoldstein Law Partners, LLC, Amicus
Jonathan Shae GoldsteinGoldstein Law Partners, LLC, Amicus
Economists of Technology Policy Institute
Jennifer Beth TatelWilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, Amicus
Jennifer Beth TatelWilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, Amicus
Electronic Frontier Foundation, et al.
David Allen GreeneElectronic Frontier Foundation, Amicus
David Allen GreeneElectronic Frontier Foundation, Amicus
Electronic Privacy Information Center
Alan Jay ButlerElectronic Privacy Information Center, Amicus
Alan Jay ButlerElectronic Privacy Information Center, Amicus
Engine Advocacy
Benjamin William BerkowitzKeker & Van Nest LLP, Amicus
Benjamin William BerkowitzKeker & Van Nest LLP, Amicus
Eric Rasmusen
James Bopp Jr.The Bopp Law Firm, PC, Amicus
James Bopp Jr.The Bopp Law Firm, PC, Amicus
First Amendment and Internet Law Scholars
Gautam Singh HansCornell Law School, Amicus
Gautam Singh HansCornell Law School, Amicus
Former Representative Christopher Cox and Senator Ron Wyden
David Morris GossettDavis Wright Tremaine LLP, Amicus
David Morris GossettDavis Wright Tremaine LLP, Amicus
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Robert Lawrence Corn-RevereFoundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Amicus
Robert Lawrence Corn-RevereFoundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Amicus
Francis Fukuyama
Seth D. GreensteinConstantine Cannon LLP, Amicus
Seth D. GreensteinConstantine Cannon LLP, Amicus
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
Kelly Marita PercivalGiffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Amicus
Kelly Marita PercivalGiffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Amicus
Goldwater Institute
Timothy Mason SandefurGoldwater Institute, Amicus
Timothy Mason SandefurGoldwater Institute, Amicus
Internet Society
Raechel Keay KummerMorgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, Amicus
Raechel Keay KummerMorgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP, Amicus
Internet Works, Glassdoor, LLC, Indeed, Inc., Nextdoor, Inc., Mozilla Corporation, Pinterest, Inc., Tripadvisor, LLC, Tumblr, Inc., Vimeo, Inc.
Jean-Paul JassyJassy Vick Carolan LLP, Amicus
Jean-Paul JassyJassy Vick Carolan LLP, Amicus
iTexasPolitics, LLC d/b/a The Texan and PowerHouse Management, Inc.
Evan Miles GoldbergEvan Miles Goldberg, PLLC, Amicus
Evan Miles GoldbergEvan Miles Goldberg, PLLC, Amicus
Keep the Republic
Eric Alan HudsonTerrazas PLLC, Amicus
Eric Alan HudsonTerrazas PLLC, Amicus
Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas
Aaron Lloyd NielsonOffice of the Texas Attorney General, Respondent
Aaron Lloyd NielsonOffice of the Texas Attorney General, Respondent
Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University
Scott Block WilkensKnight First Amend. Inst. at Columbia Univ., Amicus
Scott Block WilkensKnight First Amend. Inst. at Columbia Univ., Amicus
Law and History Scholars
Glenn Edward ChappellTycko & Zavareei LLP, Amicus
Glenn Edward ChappellTycko & Zavareei LLP, Amicus
Legal Scholars Adam Candeub & Adam MacLeod
Kenneth James WeatherwaxLowenstein & Weatherwax LLP, Amicus
Kenneth James WeatherwaxLowenstein & Weatherwax LLP, Amicus
Liberty Justice Center
Jacob H. HuebertLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
Jacob H. HuebertLiberty Justice Center, Amicus
Life Legal Defense Foundation
Catherine Wynne ShortLife Legal Defense Foundation, Amicus
Catherine Wynne ShortLife Legal Defense Foundation, Amicus
Marketplace Industry Association; Etsy, Inc.; OfferUp, Inc.; and eBay, Inc.
Eric B. WolffPerkins Coie LLP, Amicus
Eric B. WolffPerkins Coie LLP, Amicus
Media Law Resource Center, Inc.
George FreemanMedia Law Resource Center, Inc., Amicus
George FreemanMedia Law Resource Center, Inc., Amicus
Moderators of R/Law and R/Scotus
Gabriel Akiva Zabow LatnerAdvocan Law LLP, Amicus
Gabriel Akiva Zabow LatnerAdvocan Law LLP, Amicus
Moms for Liberty, Institute for Free Speech
Alan GuraInstitute for Free Speech, Amicus
Alan GuraInstitute for Free Speech, Amicus
National Security Experts
Mary B. McCordInstitute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection, Amicus
Mary B. McCordInstitute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection, Amicus
National Taxpayers Union Foundation
Tyler Leandro MartinezNational Taxpayers Union Foundation, Amicus
Tyler Leandro MartinezNational Taxpayers Union Foundation, Amicus
NetChoice, LLC, dba NetChoice, et al.
Scott A. KellerLehotsky Keller LLP, Petitioner
Scott A. KellerLehotsky Keller LLP, Petitioner
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
Paul D. ClementClement & Murphy, PLLC, Petitioner
Open Markets Institute
Jay L. Himes — Amicus
Jay L. Himes — Amicus
Phoenix Center for Advanced Legal & Economic Public Policy Studies
Lawrence Jay SpiwakPhoenix Center, Amicus
Lawrence Jay SpiwakPhoenix Center, Amicus
Professor Christopher S. Yoo
Christopher Seung-gil YooUniversity of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Amicus
Christopher Seung-gil YooUniversity of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Amicus
Professor Eric Goldman
Michael Soonuk KwunKwun Bhansali Lazarus LLP, Amicus
Michael Soonuk KwunKwun Bhansali Lazarus LLP, Amicus
Professor Philip Hamburger
Jonathan F. MitchellMitchell Law PLLC, Amicus
Jonathan F. MitchellMitchell Law PLLC, Amicus
Professors of History
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Amicus
Professors Richard L. Hasen, Brendan Nyhan, and Amy Wilentz
Richard HasenUCLA School of Law, Amicus
Richard HasenUCLA School of Law, Amicus
Protect the First Foundation
Gene Clayton SchaerrSchaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Gene Clayton SchaerrSchaerr | Jaffe, Amicus
Public Knowledge
John David BergmayerPublic Knowledge, Amicus
John David BergmayerPublic Knowledge, Amicus
Reason Foundation, Committee for Justice, Competitive Enterprise Institute,Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Erik S. JaffeSchaerr | Jaffe LLP, Amicus
Erik S. JaffeSchaerr | Jaffe LLP, Amicus
Reddit, Inc.
Michael Robert HustonPerkins Coie LLP, Amicus
Michael Robert HustonPerkins Coie LLP, Amicus
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press et al.
Bruce David BrownReporters Committee for Freedom of Press, Amicus
Bruce David BrownReporters Committee for Freedom of Press, Amicus
Senator Josh Hawley
Joshua David HawleyN/A, Amicus
Joshua David HawleyN/A, Amicus
States of Missouri, Ohio, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, N. Dakota, Oklahoma, S. Carolina, S. Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, AZ Legislature
Joshua Michael DivineOffice of the Missouri Attorney General, Amicus
Joshua Michael DivineOffice of the Missouri Attorney General, Amicus
States of New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘I, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, and the Distric
Barbara Dale UnderwoodSolicitor General, Amicus
Barbara Dale UnderwoodSolicitor General, Amicus
Students at Columbia Against Censorship
Marc Arthur GreendorferZachor Legal Institute, Amicus
TechFreedom
Corbin Knight BartholdTechFreedom, Amicus
Corbin Knight BartholdTechFreedom, Amicus
The Anti-Defamation League
Steven M. FreemanAnti-Defamation League, Amicus
Steven M. FreemanAnti-Defamation League, Amicus
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Support of Neither Party
Eric Christopher RassbachThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Amicus
Eric Christopher RassbachThe Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Amicus
The Center for American Liberty
Randall Wilson MillerMunsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, Amicus
Randall Wilson MillerMunsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, Amicus
The Center for Business and Human Rights of the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University
Timothy Kelso GilmanSchulte Roth & Zabel LLP, Amicus
Timothy Kelso GilmanSchulte Roth & Zabel LLP, Amicus
The Digital Progress Institute
Joel L ThayerDigital Progress Institute, Amicus
Joel L ThayerDigital Progress Institute, Amicus
The Heartland Institute
James Ruffin Lawrence IIIEnvisage Law, Amicus
James Ruffin Lawrence IIIEnvisage Law, Amicus
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
David Ryan BrodyLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Amicus
David Ryan BrodyLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Amicus
The Rutherford Institute
John W. WhiteheadThe Rutherford Institute, Amicus
John W. WhiteheadThe Rutherford Institute, Amicus
The Trust & Safety Foundation
Ian C. BallonGreenberg Traurig LLP, Amicus
Ian C. BallonGreenberg Traurig LLP, Amicus
The United States Chamber of Commerce
Jonathan Podolsky SchnellerO' Melveny & Myers, Amicus
Jonathan Podolsky SchnellerO' Melveny & Myers, Amicus
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján
James Michael ShowalterArentFox Schiff LLP, Amicus
James Michael ShowalterArentFox Schiff LLP, Amicus
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Amicus
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Amicus
Washington Legal Foundation
John Mercer Masslon IIWashington Legal Foundation, Amicus
John Mercer Masslon IIWashington Legal Foundation, Amicus
Wikimedia Foundation
Kathleen Roberta HartnettCooley LLP, Amicus
Kathleen Roberta HartnettCooley LLP, Amicus
World Faith Foundation
James L. Hirsen — Amicus
James L. Hirsen — Amicus
Yelp Inc.
Anna-Rose MathiesonComplex Appellate Litigation Group LLP, Amicus
Anna-Rose MathiesonComplex Appellate Litigation Group LLP, Amicus