{"argument_date":"2007-04-25T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-04-25T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","paragraphs":["General Clement argued the Court previously upheld similar restrictions in McConnell.","Mr. Bopp argued the government contradicts its own expert testimony.","Justice Ginsburg asked about other issue ads in the record.","Justice Scalia noted many ads are not issue ads."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-17"}]}],"caption":"Federal Election Comm'n v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.887640Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.890413Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The FEC argues issue ads must follow campaign rules. Wisconsin Right to Life claims this bans protected speech.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-5"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-04-25T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-969.html","primary_docket":"06-969","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:21:04.586242Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The dispute centers on whether electioneering communication rules apply to issue ads. The FEC seeks to enforce these restrictions. Wisconsin Right to Life seeks to broadcast ads without following them."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-5"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 7-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The FEC wants the Court to uphold the ban on issue ads.","Wisconsin Right to Life wants the Court to strike down the ban."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The FEC argues issue ads function as campaign speech.","Wisconsin Right to Life argues issue ads discuss policy, not candidates."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-5"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if the statement covered all ads or only issue ads.","Chief Justice Roberts asked how the Court determines if this case is typical."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-17"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between political speech and campaign finance regulation. It determines how groups discuss policy during election seasons. It shapes the scope of First Amendment protections for advocacy groups."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-5"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-17"}]}],"slug":"2006-06-969-federal-election-comm-n-v-wisconsin-right-to-life-inc","term":"2006","title":"Can the FEC ban issue ads that lack express candidate advocacy?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 29-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/06-969.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 29-5"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}