Lawrence Hurley covers the Supreme Court for NBC News.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the National Rifle Association's claim that a New York state official's alleged role in urging companies to end ties with the gun rights group constituted unlawful coercion. The justices took up an NRA appeal in which the group claims that its free speech rights under the Constitution's First Amendment were violated by the actions of Maria Vullo, the then-superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services.
During meetings with insurance companies Vullo made 'back-channel threats that they cease providing services to the NRA,' the lawyers added. The appeals court found that Vullo's actions in warning companies of the 'reputational risks' of doing business with the NRA did not violate the First Amendment, and even if they did, she would be protected from liability by the shield given to government officials known as qualified immunity.
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