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National Organization for Women v. Scheidler

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National Organization for Women v. Scheidler
Argued December 8, 1993
Decided January 24, 1994
Full case nameNational Organization for Women, Inc., et al. v. Joseph Scheidler, et al.
Citations510 U.S. 249 (more)
Holding
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act applies to enterprises without economic motives, including anti-abortion protesters. Seventh Circuit reversed.
Court membership
Chief Justice
William Rehnquist
Associate Justices
Harry Blackmun · John P. Stevens
Sandra Day O'Connor · Antonin Scalia
Anthony Kennedy · David Souter
Clarence Thomas · Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Case opinions
MajorityRehnquist, joined by unanimous
ConcurrenceSouter, joined by Kennedy
Laws applied
18 U.S.C. § 1961–1968 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)

National Organization for Women v. Scheidler, 510 U.S. 249 (1994), is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) could apply to enterprises without economic motives; pro-life protesters could thus be prosecuted under it. An organization without an economic motive can still affect interstate or foreign commerce and thus satisfy the Act's definition of a racketeering enterprise.

The Court did not issue judgment on whether or not the Pro-Life Action Network, the organization in question, had committed actions that could be prosecuted under RICO.

G. Robert Blakey argued on behalf of Scheidler, while Miguel Estrada represented the United States as amicus curiae in favor of reversal.

The case was superseded by Scheidler v. National Organization for Women in 2003.