First Amendment Library

Arkansas Educational Television Commission v. Forbes (1998) [Findlaw]
Secondary Link	Arkansas Educational Television Commission v. Forbes [Legal Information Institute]
Argument Date	10/08/1997
Decided	05/18/1998
Supreme Court Vote	6-3
Supreme Court Ruling	First Amendment claim denied; held that public broadcasters could selectively exclude participants from their sponsored debates, so long as these were not designed as "public forums."

Issue	Whether a public television station sponsoring a candidates debate may exclude a legally qualified candidate who the station does not believe can win the election.

Case Summary & Additional Resources

Majority Opinion

Kennedy, J. (joined by Rehnquist, C.J. and O'Connor, Scalia, Thomas, and Breyer, JJ.)

Dissenting Opinion

Stevens, J. (joined by Souter and Ginsburg, JJ.)

Lower Court

8th Circuit

Lower Court Ruling

First Amendment claim denied

Oral Arguments

Oral Arguments [Oyez]

Lawyers