Individual Murthy v. Missouri Respondents Seek 10 Minutes of Their Own Oral Argument Time

The five individual social media respondents in Murthy v. Missouri (docket 23-411) are seeking 10 extra minutes of their own oral argument time and for the government when oral argument is held March 18, said their motion Thursday. The suit asks the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the injunction barring federal officials from coercing the platforms to moderate their content. Not all the five are citizens of the respondent states Missouri and Louisiana, said the motion. They have standing and injury arguments “unique from and that may not adequately be presented” to the court by the states, it said. They seek the 10 extra minutes “with an attorney familiar with the record and law in this case as it pertains to them.” An attorney for the respondent states shouldn’t be “tasked with diverting preparation or argument time to address facts and law” regarding the individual respondents, said the motion. No party will be prejudiced, and granting the relief sought will aid the court on an important matter, it said. As demonstrated by the 28 amicus briefs filed on behalf of the respondents, “this case is a matter of widespread public interest,” said the motion. The U.S. solicitor general takes no position on the motion, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill (R) doesn’t oppose, it said. The individual respondents believe Missouri AG Andrew Bailey (R) doesn’t oppose, but they haven’t received his position in writing, it said.