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National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra

Docket No. Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
16-1140 Mar 20, 2018 Jun 26, 2018 5-4 Thomas OT 2017

Holding: Petitioners are likely to succeed on their claim that the California Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency Act (FACT Act) violates the First Amendment.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Thomas on June 26, 2018. Justice Kennedy and Justice Thomas filed concurring opinions. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Kagan joined. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
03/20/2017Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 20, 2017)
04/13/2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioners.
04/13/2017Waiver of right of respondent Morgan Foley to respond filed.
04/14/2017Order extending time to file response to petition to and including May 24, 2017.
04/17/2017Brief amicus curiae of Liberty, Life and Law Foundation filed.
04/20/2017Brief amici curiae of Freedom X and Crisis Pregnancy Clinic of Southern California filed.
04/20/2017Brief amicus curiae of Charlotte Lozier Institute filed.
04/20/2017Brief amicus curiae of Care Net filed.
04/20/2017Brief amici curiae of United States Justice Foundation, et al. filed.
04/20/2017Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
04/20/2017Brief amici curiae of National Association of Evangelicals, Christian Legal Society, et al. filed. VIDED
05/24/2017Brief of respondents State Respondents in opposition filed. VIDED.
06/05/2017Reply of petitioners National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, dba NIFLA, et al. filed.
06/06/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 22, 2017.
06/19/2017Record Requested.
06/19/2017Record received from the U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit. The record is electronic and available on PACER.
06/21/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 25, 2017.
09/21/2017Rescheduled.
10/02/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/6/2017.
10/10/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/13/2017.
10/23/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/27/2017.
10/30/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/3/2017.
11/02/2017Letter of November 2, 2017, from counsel for petitioner received. (Distributed)
11/02/2017Letter of November 2, 2017, from counsel for respondents received. VIDED (Distributed)
11/06/2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/9/2017.
11/13/2017Petition GRANTED limited to the following question: Whether the disclosures required by the California Reproductive FACT Act violate the protections set forth in the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, applicable to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment.
11/29/2017Blanket Consent filed by Petitioners, NIFLA, et al..
12/20/2017Joint motion of the parties for an extension of time filed.
12/22/2017Joint motion of the parties to file their opening briefs on the merits is granted and the time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 8, 2018, and the time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including February 20, 2018.
12/26/2017Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
01/08/2018Brief of petitioners NIFLA, et al. filed.
01/08/2018Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
01/11/2018Brief amici curiae of Twenty-Three Illinois Pregnancy Care Centers filed.
01/11/2018Brief amici curiae of 13 Women and The Catholic Association Foundation filed.
01/12/2018Brief amicus curiae of Jews for Religious Liberty filed.
01/12/2018Brief amicus curiae of Justice and Freedom Fund filed.
01/12/2018Brief amici curiae of Charlotte Lozier Institute, et al. filed.
01/12/2018Brief amici curiae of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, et al. filed.
01/15/2018Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed.
01/15/2018Brief amicus curiae of Care Net filed.
01/15/2018Brief amici curiae of 41 Family Policy Organizations filed.
01/15/2018Brief amicus curiae of Human Coalition filed.
01/15/2018Brief amici curiae of Pregnancy Care Centers in Texas filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, et al. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of National Association of Evangelicals, et al. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of Freedom X and Crisis Pregnancy Clinic of Southern California filed.
01/16/2018Brief amicus curiae of Heartbeat International, Inc. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Moral Law filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of Operation Outcry, Texas Justice Foundation, and Priests for Life filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of The Scharpen Foundation, Inc., Advocates for Faith & Freedom, and National Pro-Life Alliance filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists, et al. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of American Center for Law & Justice, et al. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of C12 Group, CEO Forum, Inc., Christian Employers Alliance, Marketplace Leaders filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of State of Texas, et al. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund, et al. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of Legal Scholars filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of 144 Members of Congress filed.
01/16/2018Brief amici curiae of Mountain Right to Life, Inc., dba Pregnancy and Family Resource Center, Birth Choice of the Desert and His Nesting Place filed.
01/16/2018Brief amicus curiae of First Resort, Inc. filed.
01/16/2018Brief amicus curiae of Alpha Center, A Pregnancy Help Center Registered Under the Laws of South Dakota filed.
01/16/2018Brief amicus curiae of United States Supporting Neither Party filed.
01/16/2018Brief amicus curiae of David Boyle filed.
01/24/2018SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, March 20, 2018
01/30/2018Proposal of amici curiae The Sharpen Foundation, Inc., et al. to lodge copies of record material in related case, and copy of legislative history of the Reproductive FACT Act, 2-15 Cal. Stats. Ch. 700.
02/07/2018CIRCULATED
02/20/2018Brief of respondent Thomas E. Montgomery filed. (Distributed)
02/20/2018Brief of respondents Becerra, Att'y Gen. of CA, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/20/2018Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
02/23/2018Brief amicus curiae of Compassion & Choices filed. (Distributed)
02/26/2018Brief amicus curiae of Public Citizen, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
02/26/2018Brief amici curiae of Legal Ethicists filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of Members of Congress filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of Black Women for Wellness, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of California Women's Law Center, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of 51 Reproductive Rights, Civil Rights and Social Justice Organizations filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amicus curiae of American Medical Association filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of American Academy of Pediatrics, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of Equal Rights Advocates, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Physicians for Reproductive Health filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of Social Science Researchers filed.
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of National League of Cities, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of the States of New York, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/27/2018Brief amici curiae of City and County of San Francisco, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/05/2018Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
03/13/2018Reply of petitioners NIFLA, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/16/2018Letter of respondents Becerra, Att'y Gen. of CA, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/20/2018Argued. For petitioners: Michael P. Farris, Washington, D. C. For United States, as amicus curiae, in support of neither party: Jeffrey B. Wall, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Joshua A. Klein, Deputy Solicitor General, San Francisco, Cal.
06/26/2018Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Thomas, J., delivered the <a href = 'https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-1140_5368.pdf'>opinion</a> of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Alito, and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. Kennedy, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., and Alito and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined.
07/30/2018JUDGMENT SSUED.