American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock - Post-Decision SCOTUScast

On June 25, 2012 the Supreme Court issued a per curiam opinion in American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock. The Montana Supreme Court had issued a decision upholding a state ban that prevented corporations from giving money to political campaigns in the state.  The Supreme Court summarily reversed this decision by a vote of 5-4, holding that the state court ruling was in conflict with the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which struck down a ban in federal law against corporate spending in political campaigns.

Justice Breyer, joined by Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, filed a dissenting opinion.

To discuss the case, we have Bradley Smith, who is a Professor of Law at Capital University Law School.

[Return to the SCOTUScast menu]