Opinion ID: 2303773
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Core Political Speech

Text: [¶16] Core political speech includes `discussions of candidates, structures and forms of government, the manner in which government is operated or should be operated, and all such matters relating to political processes,' and receives the highest possible protections. Cent. Me. Power Co. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 1999 ME 119, ¶ 9, 734 A.2d 1120, 1126 (quoting Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214, 218-19, 86 S.Ct. 1434, 16 L.Ed.2d 484 (1966)). As the United States Supreme Court has observed, the First Amendment `has its fullest and most urgent application' to speech uttered during a campaign for political office. [3] Eu, 489 U.S. at 223, 109 S.Ct. 1013 (quoting Monitor Patriot Co. v. Roy, 401 U.S. 265, 272, 91 S.Ct. 621, 28 L.Ed.2d 35 (1971)). Government regulation of core political speech must stand up to review under strict scrutiny if it is to be legitimate. See id. at 222-23, 109 S.Ct. 1013; McIntyre, 514 U.S. at 345-46, 115 S.Ct. 1511; see also Cent. Me. Power Co., 1999 ME 119, ¶ 9, 734 A.2d at 1126. [¶17] Mowles's speech at issue here encompassed his own representations of his qualifications and endorsements. Those representations fall directly into the category of core political speech because they relate to his candidacy for political office. Thus, any regulation restricting that speech, such as section 1014-A, must receive strict scrutiny.