Supreme Court of the United States

Keller v. State Bar of California

June 4, 1990496 U.S. 1

Summary

The Supreme Court held that the State Bar of California, as an integrated bar, is not a government agency for First Amendment purposes and therefore may not use compulsory dues to fund political or ideological activities that are not germane to its core function of regulating the legal profession. Applying the Abood test, the Court reversed the California Supreme Court’s judgment and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.