The Buckeye Institute has submitted public comments to the Judicial Conference of the United States, expressing concerns over proposed changes to court rules. These changes would require organizations filing amicus briefs in federal cases to disclose private information about their donors.
In its submission, described as a "Valentine’s Day love letter" to the First Amendment, The Buckeye Institute emphasized the importance of protecting free speech rights. The organization highlighted that filing amicus briefs is crucial for the democratic process and argued that the First Amendment safeguards such participation in legal proceedings. They stated that the proposed rule infringes upon these rights.
The Buckeye Institute further urged the Judicial Conference to consider rules that would encourage increased participation by amici at the district court level. The organization expressed concern that mandatory disclosure could deter participation and raise significant First Amendment issues.
"Because the proposed disclosure risks stifling amicus participation and poses serious First Amendment concerns, The Buckeye Institute urges the Committee to reject these proposed changes."
A PDF version of their comments is available for download.