Supreme Court of the United States

Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, Chairperson, Minnesota Board of Judicial Standards — Kennedy, J…

June 27, 2002536 U.S. 765

Summary

Justice Kennedy concurred that Minnesota’s announcement clause restricting judicial candidates’ speech violates the First Amendment. He argued content-based restrictions on political speech fall outside any traditional exception and must be invalidated without strict scrutiny. Dissenting justices argued such restrictions were necessary to maintain judicial impartiality.