Barr v. American Assn. of Political Consultants, Inc.
Decided July 6, 2020. Brett M. Kavanaugh delivered the opinion of the Court.
Docket 19-631 · 591 U.S. 610 (2020)
Holding
The Fourth Circuit’s judgment—that the robocall restriction’s government-debt exception in 47 U. S. C. §227(b)(1)(A)(iii) violates the First Amendment but is severable from the remainder of the statute—is affirmed.
The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court. Read the official opinion for authority.
How the Justices voted
Plurality · 4
- John G. Roberts, Jr.
- Clarence Thomas
- Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
- Brett M. Kavanaugh · announced the judgment of the Court
Concurring · 1
- Sonia Sotomayor · filed an opinion concurring in the judgment
Concurring in part, dissenting in part · 1
- Neil M. Gorsuch · filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part
Dissenting · 3
- Elena Kagan
- Stephen G. Breyer · filed a dissenting opinion
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. The lineup is the syllabus’s disposition of who wrote and joined each opinion. Source: the opinion’s syllabus (supremecourt.gov).
Precedents cited
Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.
- Reed v. Town of Gilbert · 576 U.S. 155 (2015)
- Ward v. Rock Against Racism · 491 U.S. 781 (1989)
- Frost v. Corporation Comm'n of Okla. · 278 U.S. 515 (1929)
- United States v. Jackson · 390 U.S. 570 (1968)
- Meyer v. Grant · 486 U.S. 414 (1988)
- Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · 591 U.S. 197 (2020)
- City of Ladue v. Gilleo · 512 U.S. 43 (1994)
- Truax v. Corrigan · 257 U.S. 312 (1921)
- Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn. · 584 U.S. 453 (2018)
- R. A. v. v. City of St. Paul · 505 U.S. 377 (1992)
- Sorrell v. IMS Health Inc. · 564 U.S. 552 (2011)
- Alaska Airlines, Inc. v. Brock · 480 U.S. 678 (1987)
- Heckler v. Mathews · 465 U.S. 728 (1984)
- Sessions v. Morales-Santana · 582 U.S. 47 (2017)
- Erie Railroad v. Tompkins · 304 U.S. 64 (1938)
- Miller v. California · 413 U.S. 15 (1973)
- Perry Education Ass'n v. Perry Local Educators' Ass'n · 460 U.S. 37 (1983)
- Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission · 447 U.S. 557 (1980)
- Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc. · 425 U.S. 748 (1976)
- Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of University of Virginia · 515 U.S. 819 (1995)
- Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah · 508 U.S. 520 (1993)
- Massachusetts v. Mellon · 262 U.S. 447 (1923)
- Frontiero v. Richardson · 411 U.S. 677 (1973)
- Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party · 552 U.S. 442 (2008)
- Northeastern Florida Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America v. City of Jacksonville · 508 U.S. 656 (1993)
- Boos v. Barry · 485 U.S. 312 (1988)
- Giboney v. Empire Storage & Ice Co. · 336 U.S. 490 (1949)
- United States Department of Agriculture v. Moreno · 413 U.S. 528 (1973)
- James B. Beam Distilling Co. v. Georgia · 501 U.S. 529 (1991)
- Welsh v. United States · 398 U.S. 333 (1970)
Official text
Read the official opinion (PDF, supremecourt.gov)
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Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2020). Data last verified 2026-08-15. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).