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McCullen v. Coakley

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
12-1168 1st Cir. Jan 15, 2014 Jun 26, 2014 9-0 Roberts OT 2013

Holding: A Massachusetts law which makes it a crime to stand on a public road or sidewalk within thirty-five feet of a reproductive health care facility violates the First Amendment.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on June 26, 2014. Justice Scalia filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Kennedy and Thomas joined. Justice Alito also filed an opinion concurring in the judgment.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Mar 25 2013Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 25, 2013)
Apr 24 2013Order extending time to file response to petition to and including May 24, 2013.
Apr 24 2013Brief amici curiae of Richard W. Garnett, et al. filed.
Apr 24 2013Brief amici curiae of Life Legal Defense Foundation, and Walter B. Hoye II filed.
Apr 24 2013Brief amici curiae of Molly White, et al. filed.
May 24 2013Brief of respondents Martha Coakley, Attorney General of Massachusetts, et al. in opposition filed.
Jun 4 2013Reply of petitioners Eleanor McCullen, et al. filed.
Jun 4 2013DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 20, 2013.
Jun 24 2013Petition GRANTED.
Jul 10 2013The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 9, 2013.
Jul 10 2013The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including November 7, 2013.
Sep 9 2013Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
Sep 9 2013Brief of petitioners Eleanor McCullen, et al. filed.
Sep 13 2013Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed.
Sep 13 2013Brief amici curiae of Democrats for Life of America and Clergy for Better Choices filed.
Sep 13 2013Brief amicus curiae of Justice and Freedom Fund filed.
Sep 13 2013Brief amicus curiae of 12 Women Who Attest to the Importance of Free Speech in Their Abortion Decisions filed.
Sep 13 2013Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amici curiae of Life Legal Defense Foundation and Walter B. Hoye II filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amicus curiae of Liberty Counsel filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amicus curiae of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amici curiae of Michigan and 11 Other States filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice in support of neither party filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amicus curiae of Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amici curiae of Eugene Volokh, et al., filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amici curiae of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, et al. filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amici curiae of Bioethics Defense Fund, et al., filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union, et al. filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amicus curiae of 40 Days for Life filed.
Sep 16 2013Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed.
Nov 4 2013SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, January 15, 2014.
Nov 5 2013The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is further extended to and including November 15, 2013.
Nov 5 2013CIRCULATED
Nov 15 2013Brief of respondents Martha Coakley, Attorney General of Massachusetts, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Nov 21 2013Record from the U.S.C.A. 1st Circuit is electronic and located on PACER. Also record received from the U.S.C.A. 1st Circuit. (1 Box)
Nov 21 2013Brief amici curiae of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Federation of America filed. (Distributed)
Nov 21 2013Brief amici curiae of National Abortion Federation & 31 Other Organizations filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22 2013Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of City and County of San Francisco, California, and Seventeen Other Municipalities filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of Victim Rights Law Center, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22 2013Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of New York, et al. filed.
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of Anti-Defamation League, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of Civil Rights Organizations filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of National League of Cities, et al. filed.
Nov 22 2013Brief amici curiae of Law Professors filed. (Distributed)
Nov 27 2013Application (13A543) to extend the time to file a reply brief on the merits from December 16, 2013 to December 20, 2013, submitted to Justice Breyer.
Nov 27 2013Application (13A543) granted by Justice Breyer extending the time to file until December 20, 2013.
Dec 9 2013Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Dec 20 2013Reply of petitioners Eleanor McCullen, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Jan 15 2014Argued. For petitioners: Mark L. Rienzi, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Jennifer Grace Miller, Assistant Attorney General, Boston, Mass.; and Ian H. Gershengorn, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
Jan 16 2014Letter from counsel for the petitioners filed. Distributed
Jun 26 2014Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Scalia, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Kennedy and Thomas, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment.
Jul 28 2014JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Jul 28 2014Record returned for U.S.C.A. for First Circuit.