Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar
The Court Rules That a Judicial Campaigning Ban is Constitutional
Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar was featured in Financing Judicial Elections, Supreme Court Debates (Mar. 2015). The following is excerpted from the summary of the 5-to-4 opinion written by Chief Justice Roberts, as prepared by the Court Reporter of Decisions: Florida’s interest in preserving public confidence in the integrity of its judiciary is compelling. The State may conclude that judges, charged with exercising strict neutrality and independence, cannot supplicate campaign donors without diminishing public confidence in judicial integrity. Simply put, the public may lack confidence in a judge’s ability to administer justice without fear or favor if he comes to office…
