6-3 Ruling Protects Right Not to Speak
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today issued the following statement today lauding the 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court in 303 Creative v. Elenis that reaffirmed the government may not compel Americans to express messages they don’t believe. The case the Court heard targeted Lorie Smith, a graphic designer who did not want to create a website for a same-sex wedding based on her religious beliefs.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a great victory for freedom in America and freedom in Montana. In this important ruling, the Court protected freedom of speech, specifically the freedom not to speak. This is consistent with conservative bedrock Constitutional principles, and further protects our way of life and the values we hold dear here in Montana. As Justice Gorsuch points out in the majority opinion, ‘The First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands.’ I could not agree more.”