Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus

Summary

An Ohio law criminalizes political speech that a state agency determines to be “false.” Former U.S. Rep. Steve Driehaus sought to use the statute against the Susan B. Anthony List because the group attempted to erect billboards in his district during the 2010 election cycle. The billboards truthfully educated his constituents about his vote in support of the taxpayer funding of abortion by his vote in favor of the Affordable Care Act. One part of the lawsuit concerns whether SBA List can sue against the Ohio law under the First Amendment; another part of the lawsuit concerns Rep. Driehaus’s accusation of defamation against SBA List.