Supreme Court Strikes Down California Donor-Disclosure Rule (1)

A divided U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a California requirement that charities list the names and addresses of their top donors in filings with the state, saying the rule violates the Constitution’s First Amendment.

The 6-3 ruling is a victory for two conservative groups -- the Thomas More Law Center and the Charles Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Foundation -- that said the California rule puts their donors at risk of harassment and intimidation.

California said it needed the information to investigate complaints of charitable fraud.

“California casts a dragnet for sensitive donor information from tens of thousands of charities each year, ...