Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc.
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-144 | 5th Cir. | Mar 23, 2015 | Jun 18, 2015 | 5-4 | Breyer | OT 2014 |
Holding: Because Texas"s specialty license plate designs constitute government speech, it was entitled to reject a proposal for plates featuring a Confederate battle flag.
Judgment: Reversed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Breyer on June 18, 2015. Justice Alito filed a dissenting opinion, in which Chief Justice Roberts, and Justices Scalia and Kennedy joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: The message determines the right (Lyle Denniston, June 18, 2015)
- A view from the Courtroom: A bonus day for opinions (Mark Walsh, June 18, 2015)
- Argument analysis: Assuming the answer, up front (Lyle Denniston, March 23, 2015)
- Argument preview: When the license plate speaks (Lyle Denniston, March 20, 2015)
- Court to rule on license plate messages, two other cases (Lyle Denniston, December 5, 2014)
- Petition of the day (Maureen Johnston, October 31, 2014)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 08/07/2014 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 8, 2014) |
| 08/26/2014 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 8, 2014. |
| 10/08/2014 | Brief of respondents Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., et al. in opposition filed. |
| 10/21/2014 | Reply of petitioners John Walker, III, in His Official Capacity as Chairman of the Board, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 10/22/2014 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 7, 2014. |
| 11/10/2014 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 14, 2014. |
| 11/17/2014 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 25, 2014. |
| 12/01/2014 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 5, 2014. |
| 12/05/2014 | Petition GRANTED. |
| 12/12/2014 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for petitioners. |
| 12/31/2014 | Brief of petitioners John Walker, III, in His Official Capacity as Chairman of the Board, et al. filed. |
| 12/31/2014 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| 01/07/2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents. |
| 01/07/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Justice and Freedom Fund filed. |
| 01/07/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Ohio, et al. filed. |
| 01/09/2015 | The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including February 9, 2015. |
| 01/26/2015 | Brief amici curiae of American Center for Law and Justice, et al. in support of neither party filed. |
| 01/26/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Phil Berger, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate, et al. in support of neither party filed. |
| 02/02/2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, March 23, 2015 |
| 02/03/2015 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. 5th Circuit. |
| 02/03/2015 | Record from U.S.C.A. is electronic and located on PACER. |
| 02/09/2015 | Brief of respondents Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., et al. filed. |
| 02/09/2015 | Record received from U.S.D.C. Western District of Texas (Austin) is electronic. |
| 02/12/2015 | CIRCULATED |
| 02/13/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Children First Foundation, Inc. filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/17/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/17/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Cato Institute, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/17/2015 | Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties Union, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/17/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/17/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/17/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Choose Life Wisconsin, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/18/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed. (Distributed) |
| 03/11/2015 | Reply of petitioners John Walker, III, in His Official Capacity as Chairman of the Board, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 03/23/2015 | Argued. For petitioners: Scott A. Keller, Solicitor General, Austin, Tex. For respondents: R. James George, Jr., Austin, Tex. |
| 06/18/2015 | Judgment REVERSED. Breyer, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Thomas, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., and Scalia and Kennedy, JJ., joined. |