October Term 2013 · Docket 13-193
Can a group sue to stop a state from threatening to prosecute its speech?
Susan B. Anthony List claims Ohio officials threatened criminal charges. The state argues no actual prosecution occurred.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Michael Carvin argued the threat creates a justiciable controversy.
He claimed waiting for prosecution forces speakers to admit guilt.
Michael Murphy argued the group failed to show a credible threat.
He stated the alleged injury is not certainly impending.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 52-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 52-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-28
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests when a court can review a threat of prosecution. The group seeks a ruling before any charges file. The state demands the group wait for an actual trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 52-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 52-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 30-34
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 22, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 36-40
What each side wants
Susan B. Anthony List wants a court ruling now to protect its speech.
Steven Driehaus wants the group to wait for an actual prosecution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 52-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 52-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 30-34
What each side says
The group argues the threat of prosecution is a concrete injury.
The state argues the threat is too speculative to review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 52-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 52-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 30-34
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why this case differs from Clapper.
Justice Ginsburg asked who specifically might be charged.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-28
Why it matters
This dispute defines when citizens can challenge government threats. It shapes the balance between free speech and state enforcement. The outcome sets a standard for pre-enforcement legal challenges.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 52-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 52-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 30-34
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-16 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 26-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-28
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 52-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 52-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 12-32 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 12-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 52-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 52-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 30-34
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.