Chief Justice Roberts Sides with Liberal Side of the Court and Upholds Ban on Judicial Candidates Soliciting Campaign Contributions

In the recent decision of Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar, the United States Supreme Court ruled that it is permissible under the First Amendment for states to ban judicial candidates from personally soliciting campaign funds. The case resulted from a reprimand issued against a judicial candidate for a fundraising letter sent by his campaign. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion and was joined by Justices Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan. Justice Ginsburg joined all but one portion of the opinion. Roberts noted that states that elect judges may chose to treat judicial candidates different than other political candidates. In his dissent which was joined by Justice Thomas, Justice Scalia found Florida’s ban a “disproportionate restriction upon speech.” Justices Kennedy and Alito wrote separate dissents to the ruling.