First Amendment Library

Randall v. Sorrell (docket #: 04-1528) (2006) [Findlaw]
Secondary Link	Randall v. Sorrell [Legal Information Institute]
Argument Date	02/28/2005
Decided	6/26/2006
Supreme Court Vote	6-3
Supreme Court Ruling	First Amendment claim sustained

Issue	(1) Whether Vermont's mandatory limits on candidate expenditures violate the 1st and 14th Amendments and the Supreme Court's decision in Buckley v. Valeo? (2) Whether Vermont's treatment of independent expenditures by political parties and committees presumptively coordinated if they benefit fewer than six candidates, and thereby subject to strict contribution and expenditure limits, is consistent with the 1st and 14th Amendments and the Supreme Court's decision in Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. FEC? (3) Whether Vermont's contribution limits, which are the lowest in the country, which allow only a single maximum contribution over a two-year election cycle, and which prohibit state political parties from contributing more than $400 to their gubernatorial candidate, fall below an acceptable constitutional threshold and should be struck down?

Case Summary & Additional Resources

Majority Opinion

Breyer, J. (joined by C.J. Roberts & Alito, J. in Parts I, II-B-3, III, & IV)

Concurring Opinion

Kennedy, J. (concurring in judgment), & Thomas, J. (concurring in judgment, joined by Scalia, J.), Alito, J. (concurring in part & concurring in the judgment)

Dissenting Opinion

Souter, J. (joined by Ginsberg, J.) (joined by Stevens, J., as to Parts II & III)

Certiorari Granted

09/27/2005

Lower Court

2nd Circuit

Lower Court Ruling

First Amendment claim denied

Oral Arguments

transcript
Audio recording (Oyez) [Oyez]
audio (Oyez) [Oyez]

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