Supreme Court Rules 9-0 for NRA in First Amendment Case Against Vullo

May 30, 2024, 03:20 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled unanimously, 9-0, in favor of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in a First Amendment case against former New York state official Maria Vullo. The court found that the NRA plausibly alleged that Vullo, the former superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services, violated the First Amendment by coercing financial institutions, including banks and insurance companies, to terminate their business relationships with the NRA. This decision overturns a Second Circuit ruling and allows the NRA to proceed with its lawsuit. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the opinion for the unanimous court, emphasizing that government officials cannot use their power to punish or suppress views they disfavor. The case, NRA v. Vullo, No. 22-842, centers on actions taken by Vullo in 2017 following the Parkland school shooting. The NRA was represented by the ACLU in this case.