No. 23-1122
Title:Free Speech Coalition, Inc., et al., Petitioners
v.
Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas
Docketed:April 16, 2024
Linked with 23A925, 24A542
Lower Ct:United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
   Case Numbers:(23-50627)
   Decision Date:March 7, 2024
   Rehearing Denied:
  Discretionary Court Decision Date:
Questions Presented

DateProceedings and Orders
Apr 12 2024Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 16, 2024)
PetitionAppendixCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Apr 12 2024Application (23A925) for a stay, submitted to Justice Alito.
Main DocumentLower Court Orders/OpinionsProof of Service
Apr 17 2024Response to application (23A925) requested by Justice Alito, due by 4 p.m. (EDT), on April 26, 2024.
Apr 26 2024Response to application from respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas filed.
Main DocumentProof of Service
Apr 29 2024Reply of applicant Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed.
ReplyProof of Service
Apr 30 2024Application (23A925) referred to the Court.
Apr 30 2024Application (23A925) for stay presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is denied.
May 07 2024Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 16, 2024 to June 17, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
Main Document
May 07 2024Response to motion to extend the time to file a response from petitioners filed.
Main DocumentProof of Service
May 08 2024Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted in part and the time is extended to and including May 30, 2024.
May 16 2024Brief amici curiae of American Booksellers for Free Expression, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
May 16 2024Brief amicus curiae of International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
May 16 2024Brief amici curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation and Woodhull Freedom Foundation filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
May 16 2024Brief amicus curiae of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
May 30 2024Brief of respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas in opposition filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
May 31 2024Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
Main DocumentProof of Service
Jun 04 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/20/2024.
Jun 04 2024Reply of petitioners Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Jun 28 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 7/1/2024.
Jul 02 2024Petition GRANTED.
Jul 25 2024Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
Main Document
Jul 31 2024Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 16, 2024. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including November 15, 2024.
Sep 16 2024Brief of petitioners Free Speech Coalition, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 16 2024Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Main DocumentProof of Service
Sep 20 2024Brief amici curiae of The Center for Democracy & Technology, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Atsign, Inc. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amici curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amici curiae of National Coalition Against Censorship, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amici curiae of First Amendment Scholars filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of United States supporting vacatur filed.
Main DocumentProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amicus curiae of Electronic Privacy Information Center in support of neither party filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2024Brief amici curiae of Prof. Zachary Cantanzaro, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Sep 23 2024Brief amici curiae of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2024Brief amici curiae of American Booksellers for Free Expression, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Oct 31 2024SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Nov 13 2024Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Nov 15 2024Brief of respondent Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 15 2024Brief amici curiae of State Legislators, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 18 2024Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument filed.
Main DocumentProof of Service
Nov 21 2024Brief amicus curiae of Alliance Defending Freedom filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Clare Morell and Bradford Littlejohn filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Age Verification Providers Association filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of American Foundation for Addiction Research, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Citizens Defending Freedom filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Council on Pornography Reform, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Justice Defense Fund filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Major Religious Organizations filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Exodus Cry, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Ohio, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Reward Foundation filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Yoti Ltd. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Minnesota Family Council, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Scholars filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of U.S. Senator Mike Lee, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Jaco Booyens Ministries, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Women's Liberation Front filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Louisiana State Representative, The Honorable Laurie Schlegel filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, et al. filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Members of the Texas Senate filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of The Matthew XVIII Group, et al. filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountProof of Service
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Social Science Scholars filed.
Main DocumentCertificate of Word CountCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amici curiae of Scholars on the Neurological Effects of Pornography on Adolescents filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of American Principles Project filed.
Certificate of Word CountProof of ServiceMain Document
Nov 22 2024Amicus brief of Nurse Heidi Olson not accepted for filing. (December 02, 2024 - duplicate submission)
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Nurse Heidi Olson filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 22 2024Brief amicus curiae of Them Before Us filed.
Main DocumentProof of ServiceCertificate of Word Count
Nov 27 2024Application of petitioners (24A542) to extend the time to file a reply brief on the merits from December 16, 2024 to December 23, 2024, submitted to Justice Alito.
Main DocumentProof of Service
Dec 03 2024CIRCULATED
Dec 06 2024Application (24A542) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file petitioners' reply brief on the merits until December 23, 2024.
Dec 09 2024Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae, for divided argument, and for enlargement of time for oral argument GRANTED.

NAMEADDRESSPHONE
Attorneys for Petitioners
Derek L. Shaffer
    Counsel of Record		Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
1300 I Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005

DEREKSHAFFER@QUINNEMANUEL.COM		(202) 538-8000
Party name: Free Speech Coalition, et al.
Attorneys for Respondent
Aaron Lloyd Nielson
    Counsel of Record		Office of the Texas Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548 (MC-059)
Austin, TX 78711-2548

aaron.nielson@oag.texas.gov		512-936-1700
Party name: Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas
Other
D. Adam Candeub
    Counsel of Record		Michigan State University College of Law
648 N. Shaw Lane
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300

candeub@msu.edu		517 918 7147
Party name: Scholars
Elizabeth B. Prelogar
    Counsel of Record		Solicitor General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

SUPREMECTBRIEFS@USDOJ.GOV		202-514-2217
Party name: United States
Amer Shahid Ahmed
    Counsel of Record		Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166

aahmed@gibsondunn.com		(212) 351-2427
Party name: International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children
Kenneth A. Bamberger
    Counsel of Record		University of California, Berkeley
School of Law
Law Building 446 (North Addition)
Berkeley, CA 94720

kbamberger@berkeley.edu		5106436218
Party name: American Booksellers for Free Expression, Association of American Publishers, Inc., Authors Guild, Inc., Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and Freedom to Read Foundation
Thomas Arthur Berry
    Counsel of Record		Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001

tberry@cato.org		(202) 789-5202
Party name: Cato Institute
Anna Aleksandrovna BidwellInstitute for Justice
901 N. Glebe Rd.
Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203

ABIDWELL@IJ.ORG		7036829320
Party name: Institute for Justice
Andrew Stephen Bruns
    Counsel of Record		Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP
633 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

abruns@keker.com		415-391-5400
Party name: The Center for Democracy & Technology, New America’s Open Technology Institute, The Internet Society, Professor Daniel Weitzner, Professor Sarah Scheffler
John J. Bursch
    Counsel of Record		Alliance Defending Freedom
440 First Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20001

jbursch@adflegal.org		(616) 450-4235
Party name: Alliance Defending Freedom
Alan Jay Butler
    Counsel of Record		Electronic Privacy Information Center
1519 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036

butler@epic.org		2024831140
Party name: Electronic Privacy Information Center
Renee Kristine Carlson
    Counsel of Record		True North Legal
525 Park Street, Suite 460
St. Paul, MN 55103

rcarlson@truenorthlegalmn.org		651-363-4547
Party name: Minnesota Family Council, Kansas Family Voice, Texas Values, and Thirty State Family Policy Organizations
James Ryan Conde
    Counsel of Record		Boyden Gray PLLC
800 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

jconde@boydengray.com		2029550620
Party name: The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and Technology Scholars
James Ryan Conde
    Counsel of Record		Boyden Gray PLLC
800 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

jconde@boydengray.com		2029550620
Party name: Social Science Scholars
Theodore Mark Cooperstein
    Counsel of Record		Theodore Cooperstein PLLC
1888 Main Street
Suite C-203
Madison, MS 39110

ted@appealslawyer.us		6013972471
Party name: American Principles Project
Robert Lawrence Corn-Revere
    Counsel of Record		Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Suite 340
Washington, DC 20003

bob.corn-revere@thefire.org		215-717-3473
Party name: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Elspeth Benten Cypher
    Counsel of Record		Supreme Judicial Court
1802 Vernon St.,NW #2036
Washington, DC 20009

elspeth@womensliberationfront.org		2025079475
Party name: The Women's Liberation Front
Trey Christian Dellinger
    Counsel of Record		AFA Action, Inc.
108 Parkgate Drive
Tupelo, MS 38801

trdellinger@afa.net		662-821-2024
Party name: State Legislators, American Family Association, Inc., and AFA Action, Inc.
Ronan P. Doherty
    Counsel of Record		Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore, LLP
3900 One Atlantic Center
1201 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30309

doherty@bmelaw.com		(404) 881-4100
Party name: Prof. Zachary Cantanzaro, et al.
Benjamin Michael Flowers
    Counsel of Record		Ashbrook Byrne Kresge LLC
PO Box 8248
Cincinnati , OH 45249

bflowers@ashbrookbk.com		513-201-5775
Party name: Them Before Us
Thomas Elliot Gaiser
    Counsel of Record		Office of the Ohio Attorney General
30 E. Broad St., 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

thomas.gaiser@ohioago.gov		6144668980
Party name: States of Ohio, Indiana, and 22 Other States
Peter Andrew Gentala
    Counsel of Record		National Center of Sexual Exploitation
1201 F. St., NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20004

pgentala@ncoselaw.org		(202) 393-7245
Party name: Members of the Texas Senate
Derek T. Ho
    Counsel of Record		Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C.
1615 M Street, NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036

dho@kellogghansen.com		202-326-7931
Party name: Atsign, Inc.
Eric Nieuwenhuis Kniffin
    Counsel of Record		Ethics and Public Policy Center
1730 M Street N.W.
Suite 910
Washington, DC 20036

ekniffin@eppc.org		2026281200
Party name: Clare Morell and Bradford Littlejohn
Aaron David Mackey
    Counsel of Record		Electronic Frontier Foundation
815 Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

AMACKEY@EFF.ORG		415 436 9333
Party name: Electronic Frontier Foundation and Woodhull Freedom Foundation
James R. Marsh
    Counsel of Record		Marsh Law Firm PLlC
31 Hudson Yards
11th Floor
New York, NY 10001

jamesmarsh@marsh.law		2123723030
Party name: Yoti Ltd.
Aaron Thomas Martin
    Counsel of Record		Martin Law & Mediation PLLC
2415 East Camelback, Suite 700
Phoenix, AZ 85016

aaron@martinlawandmediation.com		(602) 812-2680
Party name: Exodus Cry, Stand With Survivors and Protect Young Eyes
Mary Elizabeth McAlister
    Counsel of Record		Child & Parental Rights Campaign, Inc.
5805 State Bridge Rd., Suite G310
Johns Creek, GA 30097

mmcalister@childparentrights.org		770 448 4525
Party name: The Matthew XVIII Group and The Reisman Institute
Charles Luther McCloud
    Counsel of Record		Williams & Connolly LLP
680 Maine Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20024

lmccloud@wc.com		202-434-5586
Party name: National Coalition Against Censorship et al.
Stephen Chad Meredith
    Counsel of Record		Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
201 E. Fourth St.
Suite 1900
Cincinnati, OH 45202

chad.meredith@squirepb.com		513-361-1235
Party name: Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Baptist General Convention of Texas
Erin Elizabeth Mersino
    Counsel of Record		The Muise Law Group, PLLC
P.O. Box 131098
Ann Arbor, MI 48113

info@muiselawgroup.com		(734) 635-3756
Party name: Citizens Defending Freedom
William Jeffrey Olson
    Counsel of Record		William J. Olson, P.C.
370 Maple Ave. W., Suite 4
Vienna, VA 22180

WJO@MINDSPRING.COM		7033565070
Party name: Council on Pornography Reform, America's Future, Public Advocate of the United States, U.S. Constitutional Rights Legal Defense Fund, and Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund
Michael Steven Overing
    Counsel of Record		Law Offices of Michael S. Overing, APC
790 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 320
Pasadena, CA 91101

movering@digitalmedialaw.com		6265648600
Party name: Justice Defense Fund
Patrick Francis Philbin
    Counsel of Record		Torridon Law PLLC
801 Seventeenth Street, NW
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006

pphilbin@torridonlaw.com		(202) 249-6900
Party name: U.S. Senator Mike Lee, Senator John Cornyn, Representative Chip Roy, and 20 Other Members of Congress
Jennifer Marie Safstrom
    Counsel of Record		Vanderbilt Law School
131 21st Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203-1181

jennifer.safstrom@vanderbilt.edu		(615) 322-4964
Party name: First Amendment Scholars
Gene Clayton Schaerr
    Counsel of Record		Schaerr | Jaffe
1717 K Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006

GSCHAERR@SCHAERR-JAFFE.COM		202-787-1060
Party name: Major Religious Organizations
Lawrence B. Shallcross Jr.
    Counsel of Record		L.B Shallcross & Associates
2631 Bulverde Rd., Ste. 101
Bulverde, TX 78163

larry@lbshallcross.com		830-980-5757
Party name: Jaco Booyens Ministries, Ilonka Deaton, and Tami Brown Rodriquez
Paul Michael Sherman
    Counsel of Record		Institute for Justice
901 North Glebe Road
Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203

PSHERMAN@IJ.ORG		7036829320
Party name: Institute for Justice
Corey Dustin Silverstein
    Counsel of Record		Silverstein Legal
30150 Telegraph Road, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

corey@silversteinlegal.com		248-290-0655
Party name: Woodhull Freedom Foundation
Corey Dustin SilversteinSilverstein Legal
30150 Telegraph Road, Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

corey@silversteinlegal.com		248-290-0655
Party name: Electronic Frontier Foundation
Scott Lehman Sternberg
    Counsel of Record		Sternberg, Naccari, and White, LLC
935 Gravier St. Ste. 1800
New Orleans, LA 70112

scott@snw.law		504-324-2141
Party name: Louisiana State Representative, The Honorable Laurie Schlegel
Aaron Michael Streett
    Counsel of Record		Baker Botts, L.L.P.
910 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002

AARON.STREETT@BAKERBOTTS.COM		7132291855
Party name: Age Verification Providers Association
Daniel Robert Suhr
    Counsel of Record		Center for American Rights
747 N LaSalle Street
Suite 210
Chicago, IL 60654

dsuhr@americanrights.org		4145881658
Party name: American Foundation for Addiction Research, et al.
John Clay Sullivan
    Counsel of Record		S|L Law PLLC
610 Uptown Blvd., Suite 2000
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

john.sullivan@the-sl-lawfirm.com		(469) 523-1351
Party name: Scholars on the Neurological Effects of Pornography on Adolescents
Joel L Thayer
    Counsel of Record		Thayer, PLLC
1255 Union Street NE, Seventh Floor
Washington, DC 20002

jthayer@thayer.tech		7606680934
Party name: The Reward Foundation
Kevin S. TollSilverstein Legal
30150 Telegraph Road
Suite 444
Bingham Farms, MI 48025

kevin@silversteinlegal.com		(248) 290-0655
Party name: Electronic Frontier Foundation and Woodhull Freedom Foundation
Jeffrey Albert Wald
    Counsel of Record		Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
380 Knollwood Street, Suite 530
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

jeffrey.wald@nelsonmullins.com		336-774-3335
Party name: Nurse Heidi Olson
Lawrence G. WaltersWalters Law Group
195 W. Pine Avenue
Longwood, FL 32750

larry@firstamendment.com		(407) 975-9150
Party name: Woodhull Freedom Foundation