A few days back, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments as to whether or not states can prevent judicial candidates from soliciting donations without violating their rights of free speech.
All over the coast of California, the state’s Supreme Court decided that judges there are prohibited to be part of non-profit associations that discriminate sex, sexual, orientation, race, and among other things, effectively excluding the Boy Scouts of America membership.
The group wasn’t included specifically by name but state rule, which will take effect in 2016, was proposed in the previous year in response to the Boy Scout’s policy of barring homosexuals from leadership or staff roles, which led to a fierce debate among California attorneys and judges.
The case of the U.S. Supreme Court describes political free speech rights of judges while state ethics rule of free association limits. Both raise the question as to how the protection of the First Amendment should be given to judges who are tasked to be impartial and fair.
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