The following briefs are for cases to be heard by the Supreme Court in October 2009. They will be posted on a rolling basis. To see briefs for Unscheduled cases during this term, or to return to the main Briefs page, use the Argument Date Menu below.

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner State of Maryland
• Brief for Respondent Michael Blaine Shatzer
• Reply Brief for Petitioner State of Maryland

Amicus briefs

• Brief for Florida, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the United States of America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Support of Petitioner (reprint)
• Brief for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Respondent

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Mohawk Industries, Inc.(revised)
• Brief for Respondent Norman Carpenter
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Mohawk Industries, Inc.

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the American Bar Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the United States of America in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Former Article III Judges and Law Professors in Support of Respondent

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner United States of America
• Brief for Respondent Robert J. Stevens
• Reply Brief for Petitioner United States of America

Amicus briefs

• Brief for The Center on the Administration of Criminal Law in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for The Northwest Animal Rights Network in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for The Humane Society of the United States in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for The Animal Legal Defense Fund in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia, in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for International Society for Animal Rights in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Washington Legal Foundation and the Allied Education Foundation in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc., in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Association of American Publishers, Inc., the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Association of American University Presses, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Entertainment Consumers Association, Entertainment Merchants Association, Film Independent, Freedom to Read Foundation, Independent Book Publishers Association, Independent Filmmakers Project, Independent Film & Television Alliance, The International Documentary Association, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, the National Association of Theater Owners, Inc., and Pen American Center, in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Thirteen News Media Organizations in Support of Respondent
• Brief for The Professional Outdoor Media Association, the American Society of Media Photographers, the North American Nature Photography Association, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, and the Texas Outdoor Writers Association in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the National Rife Association of America, Inc., in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the 1st Amendment Lawyers in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the DKT Liberty Project, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for Democracy and Technology in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Safari Club International and the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the National Coalition Against Censorship and the College Art Association in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the CATO Institute in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Endangered Breed Association and American Dog Breeders Association in Support of Respondent
• Brief for A Group of American Law Professors in Support of Neither Party

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Curtis Darnell Johnson
• Brief for Respondent United States of America
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Curtis Darnell Johnson

Amicus briefs

• Brief for National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Suppor of Petitioner

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Taylor James Bloate
• Brief for Respondent United States of America
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Taylor James Bloate

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioner

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Ken L. Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, et al.
• Brief for Respondent Frank Buono
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Ken L. Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, et al.

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the Foundation for Free Expression in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Fidelis Center for Law and Policy and CatholicVote.org in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Foundation for Moral Law in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the American Center for Law and Justice and 15 Members of Congress in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Becket Fund in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the National Legal Foundation in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Christian Legal Society and the National Association of Evangelicals in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Thomas More Law Center, Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton, USN (Ret.), Robert Martino, Sybil Martino, Julie Bloomfield, and the Individual Rights Foundation in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Utah Highway Patrol Association and Robert E. Mackey in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Liberty Counsel in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Faith and Action, the Institute in Basic Life Principals, the International Reapers Foundation, and A Committee of Concerned American Citizens in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Amerian Legion Department of California in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, and Renewing American Leadership in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Boys Scouts of America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the American Civil Rights Union in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for States of Indiana, Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the International Municipal Lawyers Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, The American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, VFW Department of California, American Ex-Prisoners of War, VFW Post 385, and Lieutenant Colonel Allen R. Miliefsky United States Air Force (Retired) in Support of Petitioners (reprint)
• Brief for the Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the American Humanist Association, the American Ethical Union, Atheist Alliance International, Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, Secular Student Alliance, and the Society for Humanistic Judaism in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Former High-Ranking Military Officials Colonel David Antoon, Brigadier General Israel Drazin, Vice-Admiral Bernard Kauderer, Colonel Richard L. Klass, Brigadier General A.A. “Tony” Verrengia, and Colonel Lawrence B. Wilkerson in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Center for Inquiry in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Western Lands Project in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the American Muslim Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Council, and The Muslim American Veterans Association in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Freedom from Religion Foundation in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and the Interfaith Alliance in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Jewish Social Policy Action Network in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the American Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the North American South Asian Bar Association, People for The American Way Foundation, and Union for Reform Judaism in Support of Respondent

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Reed Elsevier Inc., Thomson Corporation, Dialog Corporation, Gale Group, Inc., West Publishing Company, Inc., Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive, LLC, Knight Ridder Inc., Knight Ridder Digital, Mediastream, Inc., Newsbank, Inc., Proquest Company, Union-Tribune Publishing Company, New YorkTimes Company, Copley Press, Inc., and Ebsco Industries, Inc.
• Brief for Respondent Letty Cotton Pogrebin, E.L. Doctorow, Tom Dunkel, Andrea Dworkin, Jay Feldman, James Gleick, Ronald Hayman, Robert Lacey, Ruth Laney, Paula Mcdonald, P/K Associates, Inc., Gerald Posner, Miriam Raftery, Ronald M. Schwartz, Mary Sherman, Donald Spoto, Michael Castleman Inc., Robert E. Treuhaft and Jessica L. Treuhaft Trust, Robin Vaughan, Robley Wilson, Marie Winn, National Writers Union, The Authors Guild, Inc., and the American Society of Journalists and Authors, in Support of Petitioner Reed Elsevier Inc., et al.
• Brief for Respondent Irvin Muchnick, Abraham Zaleznik, Charles Schwartz, Jack Sands, Todd Pitock, Judith Stacey, Judith Trotsky, Christopher Goodrich, Kathy Glicken and Anita Bartholomew
• Supplemental Brief for Respondent Irvin Muchnick, Abraham Zaleznik, Charles Schwartz, Jack Sands, Todd Pitock, Judith Stacey, Judith Trotsky, Christopher Goodrich, Kathy Glicken and Anita Bartholomew
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Reed Elsevier Inc., Thomson Corporation, Dialog Corporation, Gale Group, Inc., West Publishing Company, Inc., Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive, LLC, Knight Ridder Inc., Knight Ridder Digital, Mediastream, Inc., Newsbank, Inc., Proquest Company, Union-Tribune Publishing Company, New YorkTimes Company, Copley Press, Inc., and Ebsco Industries, Inc.
• Reply Brief for Respondent Letty Cotton Pogrebin, E.L. Doctorow, Tom Dunkel, Andrea Dworkin, Jay Feldman, James Gleick, Ronald Hayman, Robert Lacey, Ruth Laney, Paula Mcdonald, P/K Associates, Inc., Gerald Posner, Miriam Raftery, Ronald M. Schwartz, Mary Sherman, Donald Spoto, Michael Castleman Inc., Robert E. Treuhaft and Jessica L. Treuhaft Trust, Robin Vaughan, Robley Wilson, Marie Winn, National Writers Union, The Authors Guild, Inc., and the American Society of Journalists and Authors, in Support of Petitioner Reed Elsevier Inc., et al.

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the American Intellectual Property Law Association in Support of Petitioner/Reversal
• Brief for the United States of America in Support of Vacatur and Remand
• Brief for Publishers in Support of Reversal
• Brief for Court Appointed Attorney in Support of Judgment
• Brief for the Computer and Communications Industry Association and NetCoalition in Support of Judgment

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Union Pacific Railroad Company (reprint)
• Brief for Respondents Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen General Committee of Adjustment, Central Region
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Union Pacific Railroad Company

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the National Railway Labor Conference, the Association of American Railroads, and the Airline Industrial Relations Conference in support of Petitioner
• Brief for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, National Division in Support of Respondent

Merit briefs

• Brief for Exceptions of The State of South Carolina to First Interim Report of The Special Master and Brief In Support of Exceptions
• Brief for the State of North Carolina in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Exceptions
• Sur-Reply Brief of The State of South Carolina In Support of Exceptions To First Interim Report of The Special Master
• Reply Brief of Intervenor Catawba River Water Supply Project To Exceptions of South Carolina to the First Interim Report of the Special Master
• Reply Brief of Intervenor Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC’s To Exceptions of South Carolina to the First Interim Report
• Reply Brief of Intervenor The City of Charlotte In Response To Exceptions of the State of South Carolina

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the United States in Support of Plaintiff's Exceptions

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Jose Padilla
• Brief for Respondent Commonwealth of Kentucky
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Jose Padilla

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the American Bar Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Constitutional Accountability Center in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Legal Ethics, Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Law Professors in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Asian American Justice Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Other Immigrants’ Rights Organizations in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, the Immigration Impact Unit of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services, the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, New York State Defenders Association, Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Washington Defender Association, the Legal Aid Society of the City Of New York, the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, the Immigrant Defense Project, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the United States of America in Support of Affirmance
• Brief for the States of Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington & Wyoming And The National District Attorneys Association in Support of Respondent

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Keith Smith, Warden
• Brief for Respondent Frank Spisak, Jr.
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Keith Smith, Warden

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the States of Pennsylvania, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Deleware, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Steven Lubet, Thomas A. Mauet, James W. McElhaney, John B. Mitchell, Laurence M. Rose, Faust F. Rossi, Jacob A. Stein, Herbert J. Stern, and Michael E. Tigar in Support of Respondent

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Anita Alvarez, State's Attorney of Cook County, Illinois
• Brief for Respondent Chermane Smith, Edmanuel Perez, Tyhesha Brunston, Michelle Waldo, Kirk Yunker and Tony Williams (reprint)
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Anita Alvarez, State's Attorney of Cook County, Illinois

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the National Association of Counties, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National League of Cities, the International City/County Management Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the International Municipal Lawyers Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the States of Illinois, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the United States of America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the CATO Institute, Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation, and the Reason Foundation in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Legal Aid Society in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Institute for Justice in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Illinois in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the National Police Accountability Project in Support of Respondent

Merit briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Sonny Perdue, In His Official Capacity as Governor of Georgia, et al.
• Brief for Respondent Kenny A., By His Next Friend Linda Winn, et al.
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Sonny Perdue, In His Official Capacity as Governor of Georgia, et al.

Amicus briefs

• Brief for the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and The District of Columbia in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the United States of America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the National School Boards Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the The National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Counties, International City/County Management Association, and International Municipal Lawyers Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Washington Legal Foundation in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Old Republic Insurance Company and the National Association of Waterfront Employers in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Small Private Law Firms That Rely on Statutory Fee Awards in Public Interest Litigation in Support of Respondent
• Brief for NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Liberty Legal Institute, the American Center for Law and Justice, the CATO Institute, the Institute for Justice, Liberty Counsel, Alliance the Defense Fund, and the James Madison Center for Free Speech in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, AARP, Alliance for Justice, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Disability Rights Network, the National Partnership for Women and Families, the National Urban League, the National Women’s Law Center, and Public Citizen in Support of Respondent
• Brief for Law and Economics Scholars Lucian A. Bebchuk, Albert Choi, Andrew F. Daughety, John J. Donohue III, Theodore Eisenberg, Bruce L. Hay, Avery W. Katz, Herbert M. Kritzer, Jennifer F. Reinganum, and Kathryn Spier in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Civil Rights Clinic at Howard University School of Law in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the New York State Bar Association, the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, the Iowa State Bar Association, the Tennessee State Bar Association, the Washington Bar Association, the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the American Association for Justice, Public Justice, P.C., The National Employment Lawyers Association, and the Impact Fund in Support of Respondent