October Term 2020 · Docket 19-251
Does California's donor disclosure law violate First Amendment rights?
Americans for Prosperity Foundation challenges California's requirement for charities to publicly list top donors.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Mr. Shaffer argued the law chills nationwide charitable activity.
General Prelogar argued the Foundation conceded a key legal standard.
Justice Alito questioned the weight of past state confidentiality breaches.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a state can force charities to reveal donor identities. The Foundation argues this chills political speech. California argues it protects the public from fraud.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-7
What each side wants
The Foundation wants the Court to strike down the disclosure law.
California wants the Court to uphold the disclosure law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-29
What each side says
The Foundation argues the law chills protected political association.
California argues the law serves a compelling state interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-29
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if the analysis changes for non-controversial charities.
Justice Sotomayor asked how the Foundation's standard applies to prior precedent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of state power over private charitable giving. It balances transparency against the right to associate freely. The outcome shapes how donors interact with political charities nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-29
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 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-53 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 107, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 107, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-55 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 53-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 53-29
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.