John Paul Stevens
Role at the time: Supreme Court associate justice, writing a dissent
Condemned
Statement summary
Stevens dissents from the principal holding and writes that the ruling threatens the integrity of elected institutions across the nation.
“The Court’s ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the Nation.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Citizens United: Stevens dissentIntroduction and Parts I-IV
Stevens objects to the majority's treatment of corporations and its decision to reach the broader constitutional question.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is constitutional protection for independent corporate and union election spending. Stevens condemns the majority's reasoning and warns of harm to democratic institutions.