Sotomayor's First Case Could Transform US Politics

New justice in at the deep end with landmark campaign finance case

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2009 7:09 AM CDT

(Newser) – There aren't any easy cases at the Supreme Court level but the one newbie Sonia Sotomayor and her eight colleagues will tackle tomorrow is as momentous—and as tricky—as they come, McClatchy reports. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission will require the court to decide whether the long-standing ban on corporations and unions making direct contributions to campaigns should be overturned, potentially transforming US politics.

The case—launched by Citizens United after judges decided its scathing 2007 documentary on Hillary Clinton amounted to a campaign ad—pits free speech against fears of influence-buying, analysts say. Reformers warn that corporations will be able to dominate campaigns if the ban on direct contributions is lifted, while supporters of the conservative group's case say that if the FEC wins, it means the rights of corporations to speak freely is being quashed.

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The Supreme Court will break up its summer recess tomorrow hear arguments, for the second time, in Citizens United v. FEC. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Sonia Sotomayor arrives to be sworn in as the Supreme Court's first Hispanic justice and only the third woman in the court's 220-year history, in Washington, last month. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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The enormous wealth that corporations have amassed in the economic marketplace has the potential to flood the political marketplace. - Former FEC member Trevor Potter

When the government of the United States of America claims the authority to ban books because of their political speech, something has gone terribly wrong. - Attorney Theodore Olson, representing Citizens United

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 25 comments

BlahBlahBlah

Sep 9, 2009 12:42 PM CDT

Is this story about Sotomayor or the actual case in front of Supreme Court? Linking the case to its judge does little good. Well, little good for rational individuals who trust in the qualifications of the judge and her ability to pass judgement.

riffran

Sep 9, 2009 10:48 AM CDT

I agreed with you...thumbs up from me :)

Rocket448

Sep 9, 2009 4:51 AM CDT

Just for fun we should try public funding -- everyone gets $25000 and that's it. Perhaps limiting campaigning to a couple months or so would be worthwhile trying. The notion that something is wrong with the election process is pretty widespread; and while I don't think anyone is ready to agree on an alternative, I think its time to decide what sort of electioneering we want and why...but that's just because I prefer action to inaction.

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Crime & Courts • Money • Politics

free speech • campaign finance • Federal Election Commission • political action committees • US Supreme Court • Citizens United • Sonia Sotomayor

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Sotomayor's First Case Could Transform US Politics