Court Opinion

ID: 9752458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 18:09:12.507349+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:27:16.649127
License: Public Domain

*50ROBERTS, Justice,
concurring.
I agree with the majority that section 1614 of the Election Code is constitutionally infirm. I disagree, however, with the majority’s suggestion that, under Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 96 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976), constitutional limitations on political speech may be imposed. Buckley did reject a free speech challenge to provisions of the federal election laws placing limits upon contributions to candidates or political committees. It did so, however, only because the limits worked “only a marginal restriction upon the contributor’s ability to engage in free communication.” 424 U.S. at 620-21, 96 S.Ct. at 635. Indeed, Buckley struck down provisions of the same laws placing limitations upon expenditures “relative to a clearly identified candidate” and on candidates’ individual spending. The Court concluded that, unlike the contribution laws, expenditure provisions restrict the communication of political thought and thus “limit political expression ‘at the core of our electoral process and of the First Amendment freedoms.’ Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. 23, 32, 89 S.Ct. 5, 11, 21 L.Ed.2d 24 (1968).” 424 U.S. at 39, 96 S.Ct. at 644. Thus Buckley casts grave doubt on the constitutionality of any limitation of political speech. See also Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214, 86 S.Ct. 1434, 16 L.Ed.2d 484 (1966).