Decided
Federal Communications Commission v. AT&T, Inc.
Holding
Corporations do not have a right of personal privacy for purposes of Exemption 7(C) of the Freedom of Information Act, which protects from disclosure law enforcement records whose disclosure could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. (Kagan, J., recused).
Plain English Holding
Corporations do not have a right of personal privacy for purposes of Exemption 7(C) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Judgment
Reversed, 8-0, in an opinion by John Roberts on Mar 1, 2011. (Kagan, J., recused).
Merits Briefs
- Brief for Petitioner Federal Communications Commission, et al.
- Brief for Respondent Comptel in Support of Petitioners
- Brief for Respondent AT&T, Inc., et al.
- Reply Brief for Petitioner Federal Communications Commission, et al.
- Reply Brief for Respondent Comptel in Support of Petitioners
Amicus Briefs
- Brief for the Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press ALM Media, LLC, the American Society of News Editors, the Associated Press, the Association of American Publishers, Inc., Bay Area News Group, Bloomberg L.P., the Citizen Media Law Project, Daily News, L.P., Dow Jones & Company, Inc., The E.W. Scripps Company, the First Amendment Coalition, First Amendment Project, Gannett Co., Inc., NBC Universal, Inc., the National Press Photographers Association, Newspaper Association of America, the New York Times Co., NPR, Inc., the Society of Professional Journalists, Stephens Media LLC, Tribune Company, and the Washington Post in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Collaboration on Government Secrecy in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Free Press in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the Project on Government Oversight, the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, and Tax Analysts in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for National Association of Manufacturers in Support of Respondent AT&T, Inc.
- Brief for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America in Support of Respondent AT&T, Inc.
- Brief for the Business Roundtable in Support of Respondent AT&T, Inc.
- Brief for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics In Washington, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, the National Security Archive, and Openthegovernment.Org in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Constitutional Accountability Center in Support of Petitioner
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Related Coverage
Feb 10, 2010Application (09A742) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from February 21, 2010 to March 24, 2010, submitted to Justice Alito.
Feb 12, 2010Application (09A742) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until March 23, 2010.
Mar 12, 2010Application (09A742) to extend further the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 23, 2010 to April 22, 2010, submitted to Justice Alito.
Mar 15, 2010Application (09A742) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until April 22, 2010.
Apr 22, 2010Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 24, 2010)
May 11, 2010Brief of respondent COMPTEL in support filed.
May 14, 2010Order extending time to file response to petition to and including July 13, 2010.
May 24, 2010Brief amici curiae of Public Citizen, et al. filed.
Jul 13, 2010Brief of respondent AT&T Inc. in opposition filed.
Jul 28, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 27, 2010.
Jul 30, 2010Reply of petitioners Federal Communications Commission, et al. filed. (Distributed).
Sep 28, 2010Petition GRANTED. Justice Kagan took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
Oct 18, 2010Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Federal Communications Commission, et al.
Nov 1, 2010Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED. Justice Kagan took no part in the consideration or decision of this motion.
Nov 8, 2010SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, January 19, 2011.
Nov 9, 2010Brief of petitioners Federal Communications Commission, et al. filed.
Nov 10, 2010Brief of respondent COMPTEL in support of petitioners filed. (Distributed)
Nov 12, 2010CIRCULATED.
Nov 15, 2010Brief amici curiae of The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Nov 16, 2010Brief amici curiae of Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), et al. filed. (Distributed). REPRINTED
Nov 16, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Collaboration on Government Secrecy filed. (Distributed)
Nov 16, 2010Brief amici curiae of Project On Government Oversight, et at. filed. (Distributed)
Nov 16, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed. (Distributed)
Nov 16, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Free Press filed. (Distributed)
Nov 16, 2010Brief amici curiae of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Dec 9, 2010Brief of respondent AT&T Inc. filed. (Distributed)
Dec 15, 2010Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Manufacturers filed. (Distributed)
Dec 16, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America filed. (Distributed)
Dec 16, 2010Brief amicus curiae of Business Roundtable filed. (Distributed)
Jan 10, 2011Reply of respondent COMPTEL in support of petitioners filed. (Distributed)
Jan 10, 2011Reply of petitioners Federal Communications Commission, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Jan 11, 2011Administrative record received from the Office of the Solicitor General. (1 envelope)
Jan 19, 2011Argued. For petitioners: Anthony A. Yang, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Geoffrey M. Klineberg, Washington, D. C.
Jan 19, 2011Record from U.S.C.A. for 3rd Circuit is electronic.
Mar 1, 2011Judgment REVERSED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which all other Members joined, except Kagan, J., who took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
Apr 4, 2011JUDGMENT ISSUED.
May 10, 2011Administrative record returned to Office of the Solicitor General.
Recommended Citation: Federal Communications Commission v. AT&T, Inc., SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/federal-communications-commission-v-att-inc/