Court Cases
Disclosure
Center for Individual Freedom v. Natalie Tennant
The Brennan Center and other amici and its pro bono partner in defending provisions of West Virginia's disclosure law, arguing that the law is well within the mainstream among states that have adopted similar laws; laws which have been upheld repeatedly by the federal courts.
– 12/29/11
National Organization for Marriage v. Walsh
The Brennan Center joined Common Cause/NY and Citizens Union in submitting an amicus brief to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals defending New York state's election laws. The groups urged the appellate court to uphold the constitutionality of New York’s long-standing disclosure requirements for political committees, and to affirm a district court opinion dismissing the complaint and denying the motion of the National Organization for Marriage for a preliminary injunction.
– 05/09/11
Wisconsin Prosperity Network, Inc. v. Myse
The Brennan Center filed an amicus brief in Wisconsin Prosperity Network, Inc. v. Myse defending the Wisconsin GAB’s administrative judicial disclosure rule.
– 04/04/11
Respect Maine PAC. v. Walter McKee
Representing eight state legislative candidates and the Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, the Brennan Center filed a brief opposing an eleventh-hour motion to enjoin numerous parts of Maine's campaign finance system before the November elections. Plaintiffs' request to enjoin trigger provisions, disclosure provisions, and gubernatorial contribution limits has been denied three times: by Justice Stephen Breyer, by a unanimous panel of the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and by the Maine District Court. It was only then that plaintiffs made a renewed application for emergency writ of injunction to Supreme Court Justice Kennedy, a highly unusual move that has not been granted for the past twenty years. On October 21, 2010 the Brennan Center filed its Opposition to Plaintiffs' Application for a Writ of Injunction.
– 10/21/10
Doe v. Reed (Amicus Brief)
In Doe v. Reed the Supreme Court decided whether the state of Washington can mandate the disclosure of the names of citizens who sign petitions for ballot initiatives. In an amicus brief that supports neither side, the Brennan Center for Justice urges the Supreme Court to craft a resolution to the case without impinging upon existing constitutional doctrine regarding disclosure laws in the sphere of money in politics.
– 03/05/10
Citizens United v. FEC (Amicus Brief)
The Brennan Center for Justice - serving as counsel for itself and several new media journalists - filed a supplemental amicus curiae brief in Citizens United v. FEC. The brief urged the Supreme Court to preserve landmark precedents that support limits on corporate spending in elections.
– 01/21/10
Sampson, et. al. v. Buescher
The Brennan Center filed a brief amici curiae in Sampson v. Buescher defending Colorado’s reporting and registration requirements for ballot issue committees.
– 05/05/09
Republican National Committee v. Federal Election Commission
The Brennan Center filed a brief amici curiae in Republican National Committee v. FEC defending the limits on raising and spending “soft money” imposed by the Bi-Partisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA).
– Ongoing
Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc.
This case concerns an effort to obtain an exemption from the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 for radio ads aired by Wisconsin Right to Life during the 2004 election campaign of Senator Russ Feingold.
– 06/25/07
Illinois Campaign for Political Reform et al. v. Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth and Prosperity
The Center is representing plaintiffs in two administrative proceedings arising from the 2004 Illinois Supreme Court elections.
– 02/09/05