The Court’s decision raises concerns about the potential impact on the government’s efforts in protecting consumer privacy and in helping borrowers avoid default on debts owed to or guaranteed by the federal government. They also contend that the exception satisfies intermediate scrutiny because the exception strikes the appropriate balance between Congress’s legitimate interests in protecting consumer privacy and preserving public funds. at 26. 4. at 35. Id. Brief for Petitioner at 33–34. A federal statute forbids, with some exceptions, making automatically dialed or prerecorded telephone calls (called robocalls) to cell phones. The Student Loan Servicing Alliance (“SLSA”), in support of Barr, argues that invalidating the TCPA’s government-debt exception would undercut the government’s ability to collect debts. Justice Kavanaugh's opinion pursues a different course. at 40–42. Oral argument for Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants Inc. was initially scheduled for April 22, 2020. Moreover, MCM adds that this expansive litigation will harm businesses who offer text-messaging and social networking services. Murphy • Id. Id. The ban fails strict scrutiny, AAPC argues, because privacy is not a “compelling” government interest, and even if it were, the ban is not tailored to the asserted privacy interest. William P. Barr, Attorney General, et al., Petitioners v. American Association of Political Consultants, Inc., et al. The Democratic Party of Oregon, Public Policy Polling, LLC., and the Washington State Democratic Central Committee. (2) The exception is based on “content.” Ante, at 7. Narrow tailoring in this context, however, does not necessarily require the use of the least-restrictive means of furthering those objectives. Attorney General William P. Barr and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (collectively, “the Government”) argue that the government-debt exception is content-neutral because the exception distinguishes permitted and prohibited conduct solely based on economic activity. Wilson • Wayne • Id. : This article has not yet received a rating on the importance scale. ", "Strict scrutiny is a form of judicial review that courts use to determine the constitutionality of certain laws. Furthermore, the MCM notes that consumers can bring complaints before the Federal Communications Commission which “vigorously enforces laws against illegal robocalls.” Id. The Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (“PRC”) also argues that the TCPA could harm consumers by censoring messages and chilling free speech. Id. Your browser doesn't support the audio tag. Member Network; AAPC Wire; AAPC Advantage; Code of Ethics. Id. Id. Thus, the Government concludes, because of weighty countervailing public fiscal interests in government debt-collection calls, Congress could permissibly prioritize fiscal interests over privacy interests in this context. See ante, at 2; post, at 11–12 (opinion of Breyer, J. Clark • Brief for MCM at 15–16. Learn more. The U.S. Attorney General William Barr and the FCC petitioned to the Supreme Court, which granted certiorari on January 10, 2020. The other two standards are intermediate scrutiny and rational basis review. at 25. Instead, MCM contends that other provisions of the TCPA can prevent intrusive calls. For more on the opinion, click here. at 32. Id. Id. Byrnes • W. Johnson, Jr. • The following timeline details key events in this case: In May 2016, the American Association of Political Consultants, Inc. and three other plaintiffsThe Democratic Party of Oregon, Public Policy Polling, LLC., and the Washington State Democratic Central Committee filed a claim against the U.S. government in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, arguing that one of the statutory exemptions to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA)"The TCPA prohibits calls to cell phones by use of an automated dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice, subject to three statutory exemptions (the "automated call ban")." Hunt • Brewer • Id. Id. In 2005, Congress amended the TCPA by adding a third exemption to the cellphone-call ban: the ban would not apply to calls to cell phones that are generated for the purpose of collecting debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States federal government (“government-debt exception”). Id. Id. 3. at 31. Id. Share. Accordingly, I respectfully concur in the judgment with respect to severability and dissent in part. The Court’s First Amendment precedent militates in favor of striking down rather than extending the ban, AAPC argues, and the Government errs in relying on Equal Protection precedent, which does allow for striking down exceptions. Id. Shiras • Gray • May 6, 2020 Preview by Austin Martin, Senior Online Editor. United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Barr_v._American_Association_of_Political_Consultants_Inc.&oldid=8110850, SCOTUS majority opinions, Brett Kavanaugh, SCOTUS dissenting opinions, Stephen Breyer, Ballotpedia's Daily Presidential News Briefing, Submit a photo, survey, video, conversation, or bio, Tracking election Mcm points to TCPA lawsuits against businesses after receiving TCPA-prohibited calls Congress favored debt-collection speech over plaintiffs ’ Political.! 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