Alexander v. Cahill
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
598 F. 3d 79 (2010)
New York's disciplinary committees (defendants) adopted new attorney-advertising rules barring, among other things, pending-matter client testimonials, judge portrayals, attention-grabbing techniques unrelated to competence, results-implying nicknames and mottos, fictitious firm names, and targeted solicitations within 30 days of an accident or event. Alexander and his firm (plaintiffs) challenged the rules; the district court struck down most content-based restrictions but upheld the 30-day moratorium, and both sides appealed.
Whether regulation of attorney advertising is permissible under the First Amendment where the regulation directly advances a substantial governmental interest and is no more extensive than necessary to serve it.