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Hal Taylor, Secretary, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency v. Jonathan Singleton, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, No. 23-11163 · judgment April 8, 2025
Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.
Question presented
In Smith v. City of Fort Lauderdale, the Eleventh Circuit held that “begging is speech entitled to First Amendment protection.” 177 F.3d 954, 956 (1999). In this case, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a permanent classwide injunction prohibiting the enforcement of Alabama’s ban on public begging. That law is a dead ringer for historical precursors. Begging was not constitutionally protected at the founding; rather, it was widely criminalized. The question presented is: Whether the First Amendment protects begging.
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Alexander Barrett Bowdre
Office of Alabama Attorney General
For respondent
Kelsi Brown Corkran
Institute for Constitutional Advocacy & Protection
Proceedings
- Mar 02 2026Petition DENIED.
- Feb 23 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/27/2026.
- Feb 19 2026Rescheduled.
- Jan 28 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
- Jan 26 2026Reply of petitioner Hal Taylor filed. (Distributed)
- Jan 12 2026Brief of respondent Jonathan Singleton in opposition filed.
- Dec 12 2025Brief amici curiae of Alabama League of Municipalities, et al. filed.
- Dec 12 2025Brief amici curiae of South Carolina, et al. filed.
- Nov 18 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including January 12, 2026.
- Nov 17 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 12, 2025 to January 12, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
- Nov 12 2025Response Requested. (Due December 12, 2025)
- Nov 05 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/21/2025.
- Oct 29 2025Waiver of right of respondent Jonathan Singleton to respond filed.
- Sep 25 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 29, 2025)
- Aug 15 2025Application (25A192) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until September 25, 2025.
- Aug 13 2025Application (25A192) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 26, 2025 to September 25, 2025, submitted to Justice Thomas.