Campaign Finance: McConnell v. FEC Case Materials and Context

• Notices of Appeal to the Supreme Court
  • Notice of Appeal (By U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By the N.R.A., May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By the A.C.L.U., May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By Victoria Adams, May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By the A.F.L.C.I.O., May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By Senator John McCain, Senator Russell Feingold, Representative Christopher Shays, Representative Martin Meehan, Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator James Jeffords, May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By the Department of Justice, May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By the Federal Elections Commission, May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By Congressman Ron Paul, May 2003)
  • Notice of Appeal (By the Republican National Committee, May 2003)
• Order Regarding Post-Judgment Motions – U.S. District Court (May 19, 2003)
• Memorandum Opinion Regarding Post-Judgment Motions – U.S. District Court (May 19, 2003)

Motions/Responses to Stay District Court Ruling

• Reply Brief to Responses to Motions for Stay (Filed by James Madison Center Plaintiffs, May 14, 2003)
• Reply Brief to Responses to Motions for Stay (Filed by Intervening Defendants, May 14, 2003)
• Reply Brief to Responses to Motions for Stay (Filed by Government Defendants: FEC, DOJ, FCC, May 14, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by Government Defendants: FEC, DOJ, FCC, May 12, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by the McConnell Plaintiffs, May 12, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by James Madison Center Plaintiffs, May 12, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by the Republican National Committee, May 12, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by A.F.L.C.I.O., May 12, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by Echols plaintiffs, May 12, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by National Association of Broadcasters, May 12, 2003)
• Response to Motions for Stay (Filed by Intervening Defendants, May 9, 2003)
• Response to Emergency Motion for Temporary Stay (Filed by Intervening Defendants, May 9, 2003)
• Motion for an Injunction Pending Appeal(Filed by the A.F.L.C.I.O., May 9, 2003
  • Declaration in Support of the A.F.L.C.I.O. Motion (May 9, 2003)
• Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal(Filed by the National Right to Life Committee, May 9, 2003)
  • Memorandum in Support of Motion (May 9, 2003)
• Motion to Alter or Amend the Judgment (Filed by the National Right to Life Committee, May 9, 2003)
  • Brief in Support of Motion to Amend (May 9, 2003)
• Motion for Stay (Filed by the A.C.L.U., May 9, 2003)
• Motion for Stay of Final Judgment Pending Appeal(Filed by Government Defendants: FEC, DOJ, FCC, May 9, 2003)
  • Memorandum in Support of Government Defendants’ Motion, May 9, 2003)
  • Government Defendants’ Emergency Motion for Temporary Stay Pending Consideration of Motion for Stay Pending Appeal (May 9, 2003)
  • Memorandum in Support of Emergency Motion (May 9, 2003)
• Motion for Administrative Stay(Filed by the N.R.A., May 9, 2003)
  • Memorandum in Support of Motion (May 9, 2003)
• Scheduling Order on Motions to Stay (May 8, 2003)
• Motion of Intervening Defendants to Stay Injunction Pending Appeal (Filed by Senator John McCain, Senator Russell Feingold, Representative Christopher Shays, Representative Martin Meehan, Senator Olympia Snowe and Senator James Jeffords, May 8, 2003)
  • Memorandum in Support of the Motion
• Motion for Stay of Portion of Judgment (filed by the N.R.A., May 7, 2003)

Supporting Memorandum of Points and Authorities

• Declaration of Wayne LaPierre
• Exhibit A
• Exhibit B
• Exhibit C

District Court Ruling – May 2, 2003

• Per Curiam Opinion of Judge Kollar-Kotelly and Judge Leon (May 2, 2003)
• Memorandum Opinion of Judge Henderson (May 2, 2003)
• Memorandum Opinion of Judge Kollar-Kotelly (May 2, 2003)
• Memorandum Opinion of Judge Leon (May 2, 2003)
• Order — Final Judgment (May 2, 2003)
• Memorandum Opinion Regarding Sealed Matters (May 2, 2003)
• Order Regarding Sealed Matters (May 2, 2003)

Consolidated Reply Brief (November 27, 2002)

• Part 1 (Tables of Contents; McConnell Reply, BCRA Title I)
• Part 2 (RNC, California Parties, & Thompson Reply, BCRA Title I)
• Part 3 (McConnell & NRA Reply, BCRA Title II)
• Part 4 (ACLU, Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, RNC, & California Parties Reply, BCRA Title II; McConnell, RNC, & Thompson Reply, BCRA Title III; McConnell Reply, BCRA Title V)

• Adams Plaintiffs’ Opposition Brief (November 21, 2002)
• Opposition Brief of Plaintiffs Congressman Ron Paul, et al. (November 21, 2002)
• Opposition Brief of Governmental Defendants (redacted) (November 20, 2002) 

Consolidated Opposition Brief for Plaintiffs (in multiple parts, November 20, 2002)

• Part 1 (Tables of Contents)
• Part 2 (Tables of Authorities)
• Part 3a (McConnell & RNC, BCRA Title I)
• Part 3b (California Parties, Thompson, & Madison Center, BCRA Title I)
• Part 4 (McConnell, NRA, ACLU, Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, California Parties, & Madison Center, BCRA Title II)
• Part 5 (McConnell, RNC, & Thompson, BCRA Title III)
• Part 6 (McConnell, BCRA Title V)
• Part 7 (Exhibits)

• Brief Amicus Curiae of the Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (November 12, 2002)
• Brief of Amici Curiae Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia in Support of Plaintiffs Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Colorado, Republican Party of New Mexico, and Dallas County (Iowa) Republican County Central Committee (November 12, 2002)
• Brief of Amici Curiae The Cato Institute and the Institute for Justice (November 12, 2002)

Defendants’ Omnibus Opening Brief (in multiple parts, November 6, 2002)

• Defendant-Intervenors’ Excerpts of Brief of Defendants
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 1 (Introduction, Summary, Factual and Legal Background)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 2 (Factual and Legal Background)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 3 (Factual and Legal Background)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 4 (Factual and Legal Background, Party and Candidate Soft Money Provisions)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 5 (Party and Candidate Soft Money Provisions)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 6 (Party and Candidate Soft Money Provisions)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 7 (State Party Soft Money Provisions)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 8 (Other Soft Money Provisions)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 9 (Electioneering Communications)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 10 (Electioneering Communications)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 11 (Electioneering Communications)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 12 (Coordination)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 13 ("Millionaire's Provisions," Contributions by Minors, Increased Hard Money Contribution Limits)
• Government Defendants’: Brief of Defendants – Part 14 (Disclosure)

Consolidated Brief for Plaintiffs in Support of Motion for Judgment (in 19 parts, November 6, 2002)

• Plaintiffs 1 (Tables of Contents)
• Plaintiffs 2 (McConnell Plaintiffs, BCRA Title I: Soft Money Provisions)
• Plaintiffs 3 (RNC Plaintiffs, BCRA Title I: Soft Money Provisions)
• Plaintiffs 4 (California Party Plaintiffs, BCRA Title I: Soft Money Provisions)
• Plaintiffs 5 (Thompson Plaintiffs, BCRA Title I: Soft Money Provisions)
• Plaintiffs 6 (McConnell Plaintiffs, BCRA Title II: Electioneering Communications)
• Plaintiffs 7 (NRA Plaintiffs, BCRA Title II: Electioneering Communications)
• Plaintiffs 8 (ACLU Plaintiffs, BCRA Title II: Electioneering Communications)
• Plaintiffs 9 (Chamber of Commerce Plaintiffs, BCRA Title II: Electioneering Communications)
• Plaintiffs 10 (AFL-CIO Plaintiffs, BCRA Title II: Electioneering Communications)
• Plaintiffs 11 (RNC Plaintiffs, BCRA Title II: Independent and Coordinated Expenditures)
• Plaintiffs 12 (California Party Plaintiffs, BCRA Title II: Independent and Coordinated Expenditures)
• Plaintiffs 13 (McConnell Plaintiffs, BCRA Title III)
• Plaintiffs 14 (RNC Plaintiffs, BCRA Title III)
• Plaintiffs 15 (California Party Plaintiffs, BCRA Title III)
• Plaintiffs 16 (Thompson Plaintiffs, BCRA Title III)
• Plaintiffs 17 (McConnell Plaintiffs, BCRA Title V)
• Plaintiffs 18 (AFL-CIO Plaintiffs, BCRA Title V)
• Plaintiffs 19 (Exhibit A)

• Initial Brief of Plaintiffs, Congressman Ron Paul [and others] in Support of their Case-in-Chief (November 6, 2002)
• Adams Plaintiffs’ Opening Brief (November 6, 2002)
• Brief of Amici Curiae, Former Leadership of the American Civil Liberties Union, in Support of Defendants Federal Election Commission (November 6, 2002)
• Amended and Substituted Brief of Amici Curiae — the States of Iowa, Vermont, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington, The Territory of the United States Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (November 6, 2002)
• Brief Amicus Curiae of the Committee for Economic Development in Support of Defendants (November 6, 2002)
• Docket (October 23, 2002)
• Order: Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (October 16, 2002)
• Order: Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (October 16, 2002)
• Order: Briefing (October 15, 2002)
• Order Denying RNC Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike Certain Witnesses or for Certification of Counsel (October 8, 2002)
• Order Dismissing Without Prejudice Plaintiff National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (September 29, 2002)
• Order Denying Motion of California Democratic Party and California Republican Party to Compel Responses to Requests for Admissions (September 25, 2002)
• Order Granting Defendants’ Motion for Clarification Concerning Depositions of Expert Witnesses (September 19, 2002)
• Order Denying in Part and Granting in Part Plantiffs’ Motion to Compel Interrogatory Responses (August 15, 2002)
• Order, with amended schedule (July 26, 2002)
• Answer and Affirmative Defenses of Intervening Defendants (May 27, 2002)
• Order Granting the U.S. Motion to Intervene as Defendant (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Leave to File Amended Complaint (May 11, 2002)
• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• First Set of Interrogatories to Defendants from Plaintiff McConnell (May 9, 2002)
• Consent Motion for Consolidation (May 9, 2002)
• Second Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (May 7, 2002)
• Plaintiffs’ Unopposed Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (May 7, 2002)
• NRA Plaintiffs’ First Set of Interrogatories and First Request for Production of Documents (May 7, 2002)
• Order Granting Motion to Intervene (May 3, 2002)
• Consolidation Order (April 24, 2002)
• Scheduling Order (April 24, 2002)Reply of Senators McCain, Feingold, Snowe, Jeffords and Representatives Shays and Meehan in Support of their Motion to Intervene as Defendants (April 22, 2002)
• Plaintiff’s Status Report (April 22, 2002)
• Plaintiffs’ Opposition to Proponents’ Motion to Intervene as Defendants (April 16, 2002)
• Amended Complaint (April 12, 2002)
• Motion of Senators McCain, Feingold, Snowe, and Jeffords and Representatives Shays and Meehan to Intervene as Defendants (April 2, 2002)
• Memorandum in Support of Motion of Senators McCain, Feingold, Snowe, and Jeffords and Representatives Shays and Meehan to Intervene as Defendants (April 2, 2002)
• Answer and Affirmative Defenses of Intervening Defendants (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator John McCain in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator Russell Feingold in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Representative Christopher Shays in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Representative Martin Meehan in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator Olympia Snowe in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator James Jeffords in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Complaint (March 27, 2002)

Adams v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Adams Plaintiffs’ Opposition Brief (November 21, 2002)
• Adams Plaintiffs’ Opening Brief (November 6, 2002)
• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Complaint (May 7, 2002)
• Motion for Consolidation (May 7, 2002)
• Motion for the Admission Pro Hac Vice of Bonifaz, Wright, Tenneriello and Danetz (May 7, 2002)

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Order Granting Motion to Intervene (May 3, 2002)
• Consolidation Order (April 24, 2002)
• Scheduling Order (April 24, 2002)
• Complaint (April 22, 2002)

California Democratic Party v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Order Denying Motion of California Democratic Party and California Republican Party to Compel Responses to Requests for Admissions (September 25, 2002)
• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Consent Motion for Consolidation (May 9, 2002)
• Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (May 7, 2002)

Chamber of Commerce of the US v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Order Granting Motion to Intervene (May 3, 2002)
• Consolidation Order (April 24, 2002)
• Scheduling Order (April 24, 2002)
• Complaint (April 22, 2002)

Echols v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Order Granting Motion to Intervene (May 3, 2002)
• Consolidation Order (April 24, 2002)
• Scheduling Order (April 24, 2002)
• Plaintiffs’ National Rifle Association and Emily Echols Report on Scheduling and Procedural Conference (April 22, 2002)
• Complaint (April 4, 2002)

National Association of Broadcasters v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Order Granting Motion to Intervene (May 3, 2002)
• Consolidation Order (April 24, 2002)
• Scheduling Order (April 24, 2002)
• Complaint (April 22, 2002)

National Rifle Association v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Defendants’ Report in Response to the Court’s Order of April 16, 2002 (May 10, 2002)
• NRA Plaintiffs’ First Set of Interrogatories and First Request for Production of Documents (May 7, 2002)
• Order Granting Motion to Intervene (May 3, 2002)
• Consolidation Order (April 24, 2002)
• Scheduling Order (April 24, 2002)
• Plaintiffs’ National Rifle Association and Emily Echols Report on Scheduling and Procedural Conference (April 22, 2002)
• Motion of Senators McCain, Feingold, Snowe, and Jeffords and Representatives Shays and Meehan to Intervene as Defendants (April 2, 2002)
• Memorandum in Support of Motion of Senators McCain, Feingold, Snowe, and Jeffords and Representatives Shays and Meehan to Intervene as Defendants (April 2, 2002)
• Answer and Affirmative Defenses of Intervening Defendants (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator John McCain in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator Russell Feingold in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Representative Christopher Shays in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Representative Martin Meehan in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator Olympia Snowe in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Declaration of Senator James Jeffords in Support of Motion to Intervene (April 2, 2002)
• Order (March 28, 2002)
• Complaint (March 27, 2002)

Ron Paul v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Opposition Brief of Plaintiffs Congressman Ron Paul, et al. (November 21, 2002)
• Initial Brief of Plaintiffs, Congressman Ron Paul [and others] in Support of their Case-in-Chief (November 6, 2002)
• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Order Granting Motion to Intervene (May 3, 2002)
• Consolidation Order (April 24, 2002)
• Scheduling Order (April 24, 2002)
• Complaint (April 23, 2002)

Republican National Committee v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Brief of Amici Curiae Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia in Support of Plaintiffs Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Colorado, Republican Party of New Mexico, and Dallas County (Iowa) Republican County Central Committee(November 12, 2002)
• Order Denying RNC Plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike Certain Witnesses or for Certification of Counsel (October 8, 2002)
• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Complaint for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief (May 7, 2002)
• Application for Three-Judge Court and Memorandum of Supporting Points and Authorities (May 7, 2002)
• Motion for Consolidation (May 7, 2002)

Thompson v. FEC (Consolidated, see McConnell v. FEC)

• Order Consolidating Cases (May 13, 2002)
• Order Granting Intervention (May 10, 2002)
• Complaint (May 7, 2002)