Attorneys General, health groups file amicus briefs supporting FDA graphic warning labels

The FDA has appealed the DC district court ruling that the new graphic warning labels required by the FDA we violations of the First Amendment on the grounds that they were compelled speech. A group of attorneys general and coalition of health groups have submitted amicus (friend of the court) briefs to the DC Court of Appeals. 

Both briefs address the constitutional issues (making complementary points).  The AG's do a great job of putting the warnings in the context of the fact that the major cigarette companies are racketeers and has some great quotes from Judge Kessler's RICO opinion.  The health groups outline the need for graphic warning labels in general and provide specific justification for each image selected.

Since the briefs are hard to find, I have put copies on this blog; click here for the AG brief and here for the health group brief.