Robert E. Gibson v. The Florida Bar and Members of the Board of Governors

LYNNE, Senior District Judge:

I

In this constitutional challenge to the lobbying activities of the Florida Bar, plaintiff Robert E. Gibson contends that the Bar violated his first amendment rights of free speech and association by spending compulsory bar dues to espouse political and ideological positions. The district court found that the Bar’s stated purpose of improving the administration of justice served as a sufficiently important governmental interest to justify the intrusion upon Gibson’s rights caused by the Bar’s Legislative Program. We reverse, holding that certain positions taken by…