On July 30, the Ninth Circuit struck down Alaska’s $500 campaign contribution limit in Thompson v Hebdon, 17-35019. On August 20, the court asked both sides to file briefs on whether the case should receive a hearing en banc. The briefs are due September 10. Thanks to the Institute for Free Speech for this news. The original decision on July 30 had been 2-1.

This case is very old. Originally the Ninth Circuit had upheld the limit, and then the U.S. Supreme Court had sent the case back to the Ninth Circuit with instructions to rehear it. Another issue in the case is the Alaska law that says candidates may only receive a small amount of donations from individuals who live outside Alaska.