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On June 21, 2012, the Supreme Court announced its decision in Knox v. SEIU.  The question in this case was whether a public union may lawfully require that state employees who are not union members pay a special union assessment intended for ideological political expenditures without first providing notice and an opportunity to object.

In an opinion delivered by Justice Alito, the Court held by a vote of 7-2 that unions cannot require nonmembers to pay the separate assessment to finance ideological political expenditures unless the nonmembers consent or “opt in.”  The Chief Justice, as well as Justices Scalia, Kennedy, and Thomas, joined the majority opinion.  Justice Sotomayor filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, which was joined by Justice Ginsburg.  Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justice Kagan.

To discuss the case we have John Eastman, a Professor at the Chapman University School of Law.

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