Description
Signed by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, the first printing of Citizens Against Rent Control v. City of Berkeley, decided on December 14, 1981.
Octavo, [ii], [25pp]. Bound with stapes at top corner. Light toning to cover page, internally clean. Housed in custom blue cloth folio, title in gilt over black morocco label. This decision is signed on the front cover by Chief Justice Burger.
In Citizens Against Rent Control v. City of Berkeley, 454 U.S. 290 (1981), the United States Supreme Court invalidated a Berkeley, California ordinance that imposed a $250 limit on individual contributions to committees formed to support or oppose ballot measures. The Court, in a decision authored by Chief Justice Warren Burger, held that the ordinance violated the First Amendment. The ruling emphasized that the right to associate for the advancement of political beliefs and the right to freely discuss public issues are fundamental liberties protected by the First Amendment. The Court reasoned that the ordinance significantly restricted political expression by limiting the resources necessary for effective advocacy, thus impermissibly burdening political speech and association rights. This decision reinforced the principle that restrictions on political contributions related to ballot measures must be closely scrutinized to ensure they do not impede free expression and association. Judge Warren E. Burger (1907-1995) served as the 15th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was nominated in 1969 by President Richard Nixon and served until his retirement in 1986. His nomination was due to the retirement of Chief Justice Earl Warren, which was announced during the final months of the Johnson administration. President Johnson nominated Associate Justice Abe Fortas to the position of Chief Justice, but the nomination was filibustered in the Senate. After 17 years on the Supreme Court, Burger retired in 1986 and was succeeded by William Rehnquist. He died in 1995.
