Free Speech -- 2018



CTIA v. The City of Berkeley, California   (U.S. Supreme Court)

Government-compelled speech about speculative hazards from cell phones

The NAM filed an amicus brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case that involved a Berkeley, California, city ordinance that required mobile phone retailers to post warnings about alleged risks of cellular phone radiation. An association sued to challenge the ordinance, arguing it violated the store owners’ free speech rights; however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled against the owners, concluding that government-compelled commercial speech is subject to the least rigorous level of judicial review. If left to stand, that precedent could harm manufacturers by allowing the government to dictate how manufacturers speak about their own products. The NAM’s brief argued that compelled speech should be subject to strict judicial scrutiny. The Supreme Court summarily reversed the Ninth Circuit and ordered it to reconsider its decision. On remand, the Ninth Circuit declined to stop enforcement of the ordinance.


Related Documents:
NAM brief  (February 9, 2018)