Judges asking for campaign donations
Lanell Williams-Yulee v. The Florida Bar
In brief
The Supreme Court let Florida keep its ban on judicial candidates personally asking for campaign donations.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 5-4 · April 29, 2015 · Opinion by Justice Breyer
- What it’s about
- The Supreme Court upheld Florida’s rule and the discipline imposed on Lanell Williams-Yulee after she personally asked for campaign donations while running for judge.
- Who it affects
- Florida’s ban remains in place, and the discipline imposed on Williams-Yulee remains in effect.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
It decided that the ban does not violate the First Amendment because it is carefully limited to protect public confidence in the courts.
Williams-Yulee was disciplined after she personally asked for campaign donations while running for judge.
The dispute was about whether Florida could limit personal requests for campaign money by candidates for judicial office.
Question presented
Does a rule of judicial conduct that prohibits candidates for judicial office from personally soliciting campaign fund violate the First Amendment?
What the Court decided
Holding
The judgment is affirmed. 138 So. 3d 379, affirmed. CHIEF
- Result
- Affirmed
The Court's reasoning
The Court said the ban was carefully limited (narrowly tailored) to serve an especially important public goal (a compelling state interest).
The vote
- Joined the judgment
- Dissented
- Wrote an opinion
- Majority · 5joined the Court's opinion
From the opinions
“Faithful application of our precedents would have made short work of this wildly disproportionate restriction upon speech.”
What's next
The Supreme Court has finished this appeal, and the Florida judgment remains in place.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
AI analysis generated: Opinion Summary
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AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Opinion added: Williams-Yulee
More questions
- What did Justice Scalia object to?
- He said the rule barred candidates from asking anyone for a contribution under any circumstances and restricted speech too broadly.
- What did Justice Ginsburg add?
- She said states should have substantial freedom to set campaign-finance rules for judicial elections because judges have a different role from politicians.
- What did Justice Breyer say about First Amendment tests?
- He viewed levels of constitutional review as guides, not tests to apply mechanically.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.