Legal Services Corp. v. Velazquez
United States Supreme Court
531 U.S. 533 (2001)
Relevant factsFree
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) (defendant) distributes congressionally appropriated funds to local grantee organizations providing free legal services to indigent clients; in 1996, Congress barred LSC funding for any organization representing clients seeking to amend or challenge existing welfare law. Velazquez and other LSC-grantee lawyers (plaintiffs) sued, and the district court denied relief, but the court of appeals reversed, finding the restriction was impermissible viewpoint discrimination.
IssueFree
Whether a federal law prohibiting federal funding to any legal organization assisting clients that challenge existing welfare law violates the First Amendment.