The American Civil Rights Union filed an amicus curiae brief on July 31 with the United States Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, urging the Court to overrule Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and the relevant portions of McConnell v. FEC, which upheld the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. Citizens United involves a feature length, documentary film produced in 2007 by Citizens United, an ideological conservative non-profit, named Hillary: The Movie. Because the movie was about a candidate for President, the Federal Elections Commission ruled that it was subject to federal campaign finance laws. Consequently, the movie was prohibited from screening or broadcast during the 2008 election season while Hillary Clinton was still a candidate. The ACRU previously filed a brief in this case urging the Court to grant a Writ of Certiorari to hear it, and then filed a brief supporting Citizens United on the merits after certiorari was granted. But the Supreme Court asked for supplemental briefs addressing the issue of whether Austin and the relevant portions of McConnell should be overruled. In response, the ACRU filed its third brief before the Supreme Court supporting Citizens United.

READ THE AMICUS BRIEF HERE.