[June 12, 2003]

"Not only would such an injunction offend the First Amendment's guarantee to free speech, it would detrimentally affect democracy generally." . . .

"What SBC requests (and what we must deny) is an order enjoining Voices from carrying out a public lobbying campaign in opposition to a bill pending in the Illinois state legislature." . . .

"While the public has an interest in honest public debate, we believe silencing one side of a public debate is a drastic measure that would severely harm the public interest in freedom of speech and the legislative process."

— Charles P. Kocoras,
Chief District Judge of the Northern Circuit of Illinois