November 6, 2023 – The Insurance Journal reported today on the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear the NRA’s First Amendment case against former New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo.
As reported, “The NRA has claimed that former New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo infringed its First Amendment rights when she spoke out against gun violence and issued a press release and guidance letters urging banks and insurance companies in New York to consider not doing business with gun groups including the NRA.”
The NRA was appealing a 2022 ruling by the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said Vullo's actions did not constitute unlawful conduct. The appeals court ruling "gives state officials free rein to financially blacklist their political opponents," the NRA's lawyers said in court papers.
The NRA’s lawyer, William A. Brewer, said the NRA is ready to argue its case before the Supreme Court.
“We are grateful the Supreme Court will review this First Amendment case and excited by the opportunity to argue to the Court that a government regulator cannot take adverse action against its political enemies,” said Brewer in a statement. “The ruling from the Second Circuit condones public officials having unbridled power to attack those with whom they disagree.”
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