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No. 19-831October Term 2019Decided Jun 1, 2020Updated Jun 1, 2020

Docket 19-831October Term 2019 (2019–2020)

Jarchow v. State Bar of Wis.

This case asks whether Wisconsin can require lawyers to join and financially support the state bar as a condition of practicing law.

Case status

Decided · June 1, 2020

Read the opinion (PDF)
Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 1, 2020
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedJun 1, 2020
What it's about

This case asks whether Wisconsin can require lawyers to join and financially support the state bar as a condition of practicing law. The petition argues that forcing attorneys to subsidize the bar’s speech and advocacy violates the First Amendment and that the Supreme Court should overrule its earlier decisions allowing mandatory integrated bars.

Question presented

Whether Lathrop v. Donohue, 367 U.S. 820 (1961), and Keller v. State Bar of California, 496 U.S. 1 (1990), upholding the constitutionality of integrated bars like Wisconsin’s, remain good law.

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit / Decision released Jun 1, 2020

Area

First Amendment

Timing

Decided June 1, 2020

The Court released its decision on June 1, 2020 without hearing oral argument.

Activity

Docket activity2
  • Opinion added: Opinion

    Jun 1, 2020 | Court records

  • Brief added: Petition

    Dec 31, 2019 | Court records

Grounding

Grounding
Primary-source trail available.
Note
Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
Checked
Jul 25, 2026
Primary materials5