On September 6, 2018, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously upheld a state law banning corporations from making contributions to candidates and political committees. The law was challenged by corporations claiming the ban violated their free speech rights, and was, therefore, unconstitutional. Free Speech For People was honored to join Common Cause in submitting a ‘friend-of-the-court’ brief in defense of the law and its constitutionality. Since our founding, Free Speech For People has worked to challenge the fabricated doctrine of corporate constitutional rights.

WBUR reports on the decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, noting:

The state’s high court on Thursday upheld a ban on corporate donations to political candidates, a decision one plaintiff said he hopes to appeal to the United States Supreme Court.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ralph Gants, sided against plaintiffs 126 Self Storage Inc. and 1A Auto Inc. The court said the ban does not violate free speech rights and can help prevent actual and perceived corruption.

Allowing corporate contributions would create “a serious threat of quid pro quo corruption,” Gants wrote.

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