Wisconsin State Prosecutors Lose Another Round in Their Outrageous Attempt to Silence Conservatives
Fortunately for the interests of American democracy, the First Amendment and citizen advocacy, state prosecutors in Wisconsin have just lost another round in their outrageous attempt to criminalize political speech and silence the voices of conservatives in Wisconsin.
On Oct. 14, federal district court Judge Rudolph Randa issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm from enforcing a Wisconsin statute that they have mistakenly interpreted to prevent coordinated issue advocacy.
In essence, their interpretation, which violates basic First Amendment protections, would bar citizens and membership organizations such as the National Rifle Association or Club for Growth from talking to elected officials about issues that are before the public–like the public employees’ union bill that Republican Gov. Scott Walker sponsored and the legislature passed.
According to Randa, whose views on issue advocacy were supported by the Seventh Circuit, states can only regulate express advocacy that is coordinated between candidates and organizations. In other words, government can restrict advocacy that directly asks citizens to vote for or against particular candidates, but not advocacy that merely speaks out in favor of a particular issue that a candidate also supports.
Fortunately for the interests of American democracy, the First Amendment and citizen advocacy, state prosecutors in Wisconsin have just lost another round in their outrageous attempt to criminalize political speech and silence the voices of conservatives in Wisconsin.
On Oct. 14, federal district court Judge Rudolph Randa issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm from enforcing a Wisconsin statute that they have mistakenly interpreted to prevent coordinated issue advocacy.
In essence, their interpretation, which violates basic First Amendment protections, would bar citizens and membership organizations such as the National Rifle Association or Club for Growth from talking to elected officials about issues that are before the public–like the public employees’ union bill that Republican Gov. Scott Walker sponsored and the legislature passed.
According to Randa, whose views on issue advocacy were supported by the Seventh Circuit, states can only regulate express advocacy that is coordinated between candidates and organizations. In other words, government can restrict advocacy that directly asks citizens to vote for or against particular candidates, but not advocacy that merely speaks out in favor of a particular issue that a candidate also supports.