Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/13pdf/13-193_omq2.pdf
Page Number: 5

Cite as:  573 U. S. ____ (2014) 

3 

Opinion of the Court 

the false statement law, the Commission “shall” refer the 
matter to the relevant county prosecutor.  Ohio Rev. Code 
Ann.  §§3517.155(D)(1)–(2)  (Lexis  Supp.  2014).    Alterna-
tively,  the  Commission’s  regulations  state  that  it  may 
simply issue a reprimand.  See Ohio Admin. Code §3517– 
1–14(D).  Violation of the false statement statute is a first-
degree  misdemeanor  punishable  by  up  to  six  months  of 
imprisonment,  a  fine  up  to  $5,000,  or  both.    Ohio  Rev. 
Code  Ann.  §§3599.40  (Lexis  2013),  3517.992(V)  (Lexis
Supp.  2014).  A  second  conviction  under  the  false  state-
ment statute is a fourth-degree felony that carries a man-
datory penalty of disfranchisement.  §3599.39. 

II 

Petitioner  Susan  B.  Anthony  List  (SBA)  is  a  “pro-life 
advocacy  organization.”  525  Fed.  Appx.  415,  416  (CA6
2013).  During the 2010 election cycle, SBA publicly criti-
cized  various  Members  of  Congress  who  voted  for  the 
Patient  Protection  and  Affordable  Care  Act  (ACA). 
In 
particular, it issued a press release announcing its plan to
“educat[e]  voters  that  their  representative  voted  for  a 
health  care  bill  that  includes  taxpayer-funded  abortion.” 
App.  49–50.    The  press  release  listed  then-Congressman
Steve  Driehaus,  a  respondent  here,  who  voted  for  the 
ACA.  SBA also sought to display a billboard in Driehaus’ 
district  condemning  that  vote.  The  planned  billboard 
would  have  read:  “Shame  on  Steve  Driehaus!    Driehaus 
voted  FOR  taxpayer-funded  abortion.”  Id.,  at  37.  The 
advertising  company  that  owned  the  billboard  space  re-
fused  to  display  that  message,  however,  after  Driehaus’ 
counsel threatened legal action. 

On October 4, 2010, Driehaus filed a complaint with the
Ohio Elections Commission alleging, as relevant here, that
SBA  had  violated  §§3517.21(B)(9)  and  (10)  by  falsely