Thompson v. Hebdon

Alaska’s laws limited voter donations to a maximum of $500 per year to any political candidate or any group other than a political party. When adjusted for inflation, the $500 limit falls below a similar Vermont donation limit the Supreme Court struck down in 2006 in Randall v. Sorrell. This cap on donations made it nearly impossible for Alaskan candidates to communicate with voters in the nation’s largest geographical districts.

The freedom of voters to participate in the political process is seriously impeded by laws that don’t allow them to meaningfully support the candidates and causes they believe in. That’s why the Supreme Court, in a per curium opinion, vacated the 9th Circuit’s decision that had upheld Alaska’s draconian campaign contribution laws. The high court also ordered the 9th Circuit to reexamine whether Alaska’s laws are consistent with the Supreme Court’s First Amendment precedents.

Case timeline

• November 2015: With ADF’s help, attorneys filed a lawsuit on behalf of a group of Alaska voters alleging the state’s limits on campaign contributions violated the First Amendment.
• November 2016: The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska ruled the contribution limits did not violate the Constitution.
• November 2018: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling.
• July 2019 : ADF attorneys, lead counsel at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and other attorneys petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
• November 2019: The Supreme Court vacated the 9th Circuit decision. It sent the case back to the circuit court and ordered it to determine whether the contribution limits were consistent with First Amendment precedent.
• July 2021: On remand, the 9th Circuit ruled the contribution limits were unconstitutional.