Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Ashley Moody, Attorney General of Florida, et al. v. NetChoice, LLC, dba NetChoice, et al.
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, No. 21-12355 · judgment May 23, 2022
Decided · July 1, 2024
Pre-decision estimate: 11% cert probability (95% interval 6%–18%)
Before the decision, about 2.6× the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for a state or local-government petitioner, a circuit split argued in the petition, and a dissent in the court below (flagged in the petition), and down for a business respondent.
Questions presented
Florida has enacted a law that attempts to prevent social-media companies from abusing their enormous power to censor speech. The questions presented are:
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Whether the First Amendment prohibits a State from requiring that social-media companies host third-party communications, and from regulating the time, place, and manner in which they do so.
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Whether the First Amendment prohibits a State from requiring social-media companies to notify and provide an explanation to their users when they censor the user's speech. The petitions for writs of certiorari are granted limited to Questions 1 and 2 presented by the Solicitor General in her brief for the United States as amicus curie.
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Whether the laws’ content-moderation restrictions comply with the First Amendment.
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Whether the laws’ individualized-explanation requirements comply with the First Amendment.
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Henry Charles Whitaker
Florida Office of the Attorney General
For respondent
Paul D. Clement
Clement & Murphy, PLLC
Case
Conference history
Distributed for 3 conferences
Amicus briefs
8 cert-stage · 76 merits
(10 supporting pet./neither, 66 respondent)
Argument & decision
Argued February 26, 2024 — Henry C. Whitaker · Paul D. Clement. Audio and transcript
Decided July 1, 2024. Opinion by Kagan.
Proceedings
- Aug 02 2024Judgment Issued.
- Jul 01 2024Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Sotomayor, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, JJ., joined in full, and in which Jackson, J., joined as to Parts I, II and III-A. Barrett, J., filed a concurring opinion. Jackson, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. (Opinion together with No. 22-555).
- Feb 26 2024Argued. For petitioners: Henry C. Whitaker, Solicitor General, Tallahassee, Fla. For respondents: Paul D. Clement, Alexandria, Va.; and Elizabeth B. Prelogar, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
- Feb 16 2024Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
- Feb 15 2024Reply of respondents Netchoice, LLC, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amici curiae of Moms for Liberty, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amici curiae of iTexasPolitics, LLC d/b/a The Texan, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of American Principles Project filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Children’s Health Defense filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Eric Rasmusen filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Donald J. Trump filed. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Center for American Liberty filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Donald W. Landry filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amici curiae of Babylon Bee and Not the Bee filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Open Markets Institute filed (Jan. 30, 2024.) VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Amicus Populi filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Missouri, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 22 2024Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
- Jan 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Keep the Republic filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of World Faith Foundation filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Heartland Institute filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Center for renewing America filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 19 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Digital Progress Institute filed. VIDED (Distributed)
- Jan 19 2024Brief amicus curiae of Dr. Christos A. Makridis filed. VIDED (Distributed)
- Jan 19 2024Brief amici curiae of Legal Scholars Adam Candeub, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
- Jan 16 2024Brief of petitioners Ashley Moody, Attorney General of Florida, et al. filed. (Distributed)
- Jan 11 2024CIRCULATED.
- Jan 10 2024Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
- Jan 10 2024Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER.
- Jan 05 2024SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, February 26, 2024.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Public Knowledge filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Internet Society filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Economists in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Former Representative Christopher Cox and Senator Ron Wyden filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Engine Advocacy filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Article 19: Global Campaign for Free Expression, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Reddit, Inc. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Discord Inc. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Professors of History filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of The Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Marketplace Industry Association, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of National Security Experts in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Reason Foundation, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Protect the First Foundation filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Center for Democracy & Technology filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Center for Social Media and Politics at New York University, et al. in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of PEN American Center and Library Futures filed.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Developers Alliance, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Wikimedia Foundation filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Amicus brief of International Center for Law & Economics not accepted for filing. (Corrected electronic and paper briefs to be submitted--December 11, 2023)
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of International Center for Law & Economics filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of National Taxpayers Union Foundation filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of TechFreedom filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Francis Fukuyama filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Progress, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of The Center for Business and Human Rights of the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University In support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of The Trust & Safety Foundation filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Professor Christopher S. Yoo filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of American Jewish Committee filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of The Anti-Defamation League in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of New York, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Center for Growth and Opportunity, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Americans for Prosperity Foundation filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amici curiae of Moderators of R/Law and R/Scotus filed. VIDED.
- Dec 07 2023Brief amicus curiae of Electronic Privacy Information Center supporting neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 06 2023Brief amicus curiae of Liberty Justice Center filed. VIDED.
- Dec 06 2023Brief amici curiae of Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, et al. in support of neither party filed. VIDED.
- Dec 06 2023Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed. VIDED.
- Dec 06 2023Brief amicus curiae of Bluesky, a Public Benefit Corporation, M. Chris Riley, an individual, and Floor64, Inc. d/b/a the Copia Institute filed. VIDED.
- Dec 06 2023Brief amici curiae of First Amendment and Internet Law Scholars filed. VIDED.
- Dec 06 2023Amicus brief of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Support of Neither Party not accepted for filing. (Corrected version submitted--December 14, 2023)
- Dec 06 2023Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Support of Neither Party (December 14, 2023) filed. VIDED.
- Dec 06 2023Brief amicus curiae of Yelp Inc. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 05 2023Brief amicus curiae of Professor Eric Goldman filed. VIDED.
- Dec 05 2023Brief amici curiae of Internet Works, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Dec 05 2023Brief amicus curiae of Goldwater Institute filed. VIDED.
- Dec 05 2023Brief amicus curiae of Washington Legal Foundation filed. VIDED.
- Dec 05 2023Brief amici curiae of Professors Richard L. Hasen, Brendan Nyhan, and Amy Wilentz filed. VIDED.
- Dec 05 2023Brief amici curiae of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, et al. filed. VIDED.
- Nov 30 2023Brief of respondents Netchoice, LLC, et al. filed.
- Nov 30 2023Joint appendix filed. (Statement of cost received.)
- Nov 30 2023Brief amicus curiae of Media Law Resource Center, Inc. filed. VIDED
- Oct 10 2023The following briefing schedule is adopted: Respondents in No. 22-277 and petitioners in No. 22-555 shall file opening briefs on the merits on or before Thursday, November 30, 2023, and the briefs shall bear a light blue cover. Any brief of an amicus curiae in support or in support of neither party shall be filed on or before Thursday, December 7, 2023, and the brief shall bear a light green cover. Petitioners in No. 22-277 and respondents in No. 22-555 shall file response briefs on the merits on or before Tuesday, January 16, 2024, and those briefs shall bear a light red cover. Any brief of an amicus curiae in support shall be filed on or before Tuesday, January 23, 2024, and the briefs shall bear a dark green cover. Reply briefs shall be filed in compliance with Rule 25.3, and the briefs shall bear a yellow cover. An amicus curiae shall file only a single brief in these cases.
- Sep 29 2023Petition GRANTED limited to Questions 1 and 2 presented by the Solicitor General in her brief for the United States as amicus curiae.
- Aug 30 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/26/2023.
- Aug 14 2023Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. VIDED.
- Jan 23 2023The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
- Jan 04 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/20/2023.
- Dec 29 2022Rescheduled.
- Dec 07 2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/6/2023.
- Nov 23 2022Reply of petitioners Ashley Moody, Attorney General of Florida, et al., filed.
- Oct 24 2022Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Attorney General, Florida, et al.
- Oct 24 2022Brief amici curiae of Reynaldo Gonzalez, et al. in support of neither party filed.
- Oct 24 2022Brief of respondents Netchoice, LLC, et al. in opposition filed.
- Oct 24 2022Brief amicus curiae of Alan B. Morrison filed.
- Oct 24 2022Brief amicus curiae of Freedom X filed.
- Oct 24 2022Brief amicus curiae of Philip Hamburger in support of neither party filed.
- Oct 21 2022Brief amicus curiae of Donald J. Trump filed.
- Oct 21 2022Brief amici curiae of Ohio, et al. filed.
- Oct 17 2022Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Netchoice, LLC, et al.
- Oct 17 2022Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed.
- Sep 21 2022Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 24, 2022)
- Aug 17 2022Application (22A131) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until September 21, 2022.
- Aug 11 2022Application (22A131) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 21, 2022 to September 21, 2022, submitted to Justice Thomas.