Linda Coberly Discusses Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona Immigration Statute

Linda Coberly, vice chair of the firm's appellate and critical motions practice group, was recently invited to speak in a podcast presented by The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. The podcast covered the Supreme Court's decision in Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting, one of the most closely watched cases of the Term.

The case concerned an Arizona law that imposes sanctions on employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and various civil rights groups filed suit to block enforcement of Arizona's law, arguing that it was preempted by federal statutes. Coberly was retained to file an amicus brief on behalf of the National Immigrant Justice Center and other immigration rights groups, in support of the Chamber's position.

The Supreme Court held by a vote of 5-3 that the Arizona statutory scheme was not preempted. Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion; Justices Scalia, Kennedy, and Alito joined the Chief Justice's opinion, and Justice Thomas joined in part and concurred in the judgment. Justice Breyer and Justice Ginsberg dissented, and Justice Sotomayor filed a separate dissent. Justice Kagan did not participate in the decision.