On April 22, 2014, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus. The question in this case is twofold. First, whether, to challenge a speech-suppressive law, a person whose speech is prohibited must prove that authorities would definitely and successfully prosecute him, as the Sixth Circuit holds, or whether the court should presume that a credible threat of prosecution exists absent the law falling into disuse or a firm commitment by prosecutors not to enforce the law, as seven other Circuits hold. The second question is whether the Sixth Circuit erred by holding, in direct conflict with the Eighth Circuit, that state laws prohibiting “false” political speech are not subject to pre-enforcement First Amendment review as long as the speaker maintains that his speech is true, even if others who enforce the law disagree.
To discuss the case, we have John G. Malcolm, Director, Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, The Heritage Foundation.
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