Seventh Circuit Clarifies Screening Process For Proposed Amicus Briefs

In National Organization for Women, Inc. v. Scheidler, 223 F.3d 615 (7th Cir. 2000), the Seventh Circuit announced that it would not automatically grant leave to file amicus briefs. The court recently clarified its position on the subject. In Voices for Choices v. Illinois Bell Telephone Co., 339 F.3d 542 (7th Cir. Aug. 6, 2003) (Posner, J., in chambers), the court noted that the test for allowing amicus briefs is “whether the brief will assist the judges by presenting ideas, arguments, theories, insights, facts, or data that are not to be found in the parties’ briefs.”