Our Litigators of the week are William Brewer III of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, the longtime outside counsel for the National Rifle Association, and David Cole of the American Civil Liberties Union whom Brewer called on to help revive the NRA’s First Amendment case against ex-New York state Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo.
Last week, in a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court found the NRA had plausibly alleged that Vullo used her position to pressure insurance and financial services companies to stifle the NRA’s pro-gun advocacy—particularly by threatening enforcement actions against those refusing to disassociate from the NRA and other advocacy groups. “Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors,” wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
