Eighth Circuit Invalidates Missouri's Two-Year Lobbying Ban for Former Legislators and Staffers -
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated a Missouri state constitutional amendment that imposed a two-year lobbying ban on former legislators and other General Assembly employees. The case was brought by a former legislator, a company that wished to hire him as a lobbyist, and a legislative employee seeking to join the private sector, all of whom claimed the law violated their free speech rights. The Eighth Circuit held that Missouri's lobbying prohibition was invalid as it applied to the plaintiffs. As a result, the law will remain on the books and may lawfully be applied against other individuals, although the court's analysis leaves little doubt that future challengers will obtain the same result.
Please see full publication below for more information.