Opinion ID: 2582429
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: RCW 42.17.530(1)(a) extends to protected speech, hence, strict scrutiny applies

Text: ¶ 8 `[T]he First Amendment `has its fullest and most urgent application' to speech uttered during a campaign for political office.' Burson v. Freeman, 504 U.S. 191, 196, 112 S.Ct. 1846, 119 L.Ed.2d 5 (1992) (plurality opinion) (quoting Eu v. S.F. County Democratic Cent. Comm., 489 U.S. 214, 223, 109 S.Ct. 1013, 103 L.Ed.2d 271 (1989)). Such political speech is `at the core of our First Amendment freedoms.' Republican Party v. White, 536 U.S. 765, 774, 122 S.Ct. 2528, 153 L.Ed.2d 694 (2002) (quoting Republican Party v. Kelly, 247 F.3d 854, 861, 863 (8th Cir.2001)). Accordingly, any statute that purports to regulate such speech based on its content is subject to strict scrutiny. Id.; Burson, 504 U.S. at 198, 112 S.Ct. 1846 (state's content-based regulation of political speech subject to strict scrutiny); 119 Vote No! Comm., 135 Wash.2d at 628, 957 P.2d 691; Rickert, 129 Wash.App. at 452, 119 P.3d 379. [5] Under this standard, the State must demonstrate that RCW 42.17.530(1)(a) `is necessary to serve a compelling state interest and that it is narrowly drawn to achieve that end.' Burson, 504 U.S. at 198, 112 S.Ct. 1846 (quoting Perry Educ. Ass'n v. Perry Local Educators' Ass'n, 460 U.S. 37, 45, 103 S.Ct. 948, 74 L.Ed.2d 794 (1983)). ¶ 9 The text of RCW 42.17.530(1)(a) suggests that the legislature may have intended to limit the scope of its prohibition to the unprotected category of political defamation speech identified by the United States Supreme Court in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964). However, as correctly noted by the Court of Appeals, [U]nder New York Times, only defamatory statements . . . are not constitutionally protected speech. Rickert, 129 Wash.App. at 461, 119 P.3d 379. Because RCW 42.17.530(1)(a) does not require proof of the defamatory nature of the statements it prohibits, its reach is not limited to the very narrow category of unprotected speech identified in New York Times and its progeny. Thus, RCW 42.17.530(1)(a) extends to protected political speech and strict scrutiny must apply.