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No. 23-1122October Term 2024Decided Jun 27, 2025

Docket 23-1122October Term 2024 (2024–2025)

Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al., Petitioners v. Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas

The Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring pornographic websites to verify the age of users, ruling that the requirement is subject to intermediate scrutiny rather than strict scrutiny.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 27, 2025
Case AcceptedJul 2, 2024
Arguments HeardJan 15, 2025
Decision ReleasedJun 27, 2025
What it's about

The Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring pornographic websites to verify the age of users, ruling that the requirement is subject to intermediate scrutiny rather than strict scrutiny. The Court found that the law constitutionally balances the state's interest in protecting minors from harmful content with the incidental burden placed on adults' access to protected speech.

Question presented

Is a Texas law that requires any website that publishes content one-third or more of which is “harmful to minors” to verify the age of each of its users before providing access subject to “rational basis” review or “strict scrutiny”?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Jun 27, 2025

Area

Decided Supreme Court case