[EL] Gaspee Project v Mederos, aardvarks to alligators

[robbin stewart]

opinion: http://media.ca1.uscourts.gov/pdf.opinions/20-1944P-01A.pdf

article:
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2021/09/16/ri-donor-disclosure-laws-upheld-again-conservative-group-conservative-group-vows-fight/8363068002/






*A federal appeals court has upheld Rhode Island's campaign-spending
disclosure laws against a constitutional challenge by a coalition of
conservative groups. Those groups say they intend to appeal to the Supreme
Court.         A three-judge panel of the First Circuit Court of Appeals on
Tuesday said Rhode Island laws making top donors identify themselves in
certain election advertising does not infringe on those donors' free-speech
rights.In a 37-page written decision, Judge Bruce Selya wrote that the
state's interest in informing the electorate is "as vital to the survival
of a democracy as air is to the survival of human life" and Rhode Island's
campaign finance laws are sufficiently tailored to that purpose. ... And
called the analogy of donor disclosure laws to anti-civil-rights efforts to
identify NAACP members like 'equating aardvarks with alligators.' "*
In my opinion, the court got the part about disclaimers wrong, widening the
circuit split on this issue. I am interested in corresponding with anyone
who might want to join an amicus brief in favor of certiorari. I don't know
if there will be anything preliminary such as a motion to reconsider or for
en banc review.

robbin stewart, aka arbitrary aardvark.
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