United States Eighth Circuit

Initiative 300, which was adopted by Nebraska voters and places restrictions on corporate ownership of Nebraska farm and ranch land, is unconstitutional as it violates the dormant commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/13/2006
• Published 12/13/2006

Judges

• ARNOLD, Circuit Judge., Before ARNOLD, BYE, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Katherine J. Spohn, Asst. Atty. General, argued, Lincoln, NE (John Bruning, Nebraska Atty. General, David D. Cookson and Justin D. Lavene, Asst. Attys. General, Lincoln, NE, on the brief), for appellants., Michael C. Stumo, Domina Law Group, Omaha, NE, Thomas K. Overton, Attorney General's Office, St. Paul, MN, Robert Vail Broom, Jeffery R. Kirkpatrick, McHenry & Haszard, Patricia A. Knapp, University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, NE, Steven M. Virgil, Community Economic Development Clinic, Omaha, NE, Lynn Ann Hayes, Karen R. Krub, Jessica A. Shoemaker, Farmers Legal Action Group, St. Paul, MN, for Amici on behalf of Appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• L. Steven Grasz, argued, Omaha, NE (Thomas H. Dalik, Michael S. Degan, Rebecca B. Gregory, Blackwell & Sanders, Omaha, NE; David A. Jarecke, Crosby & Guenzel, Lincoln, NE, Stephen D. Mossman, Mattson & Ricketts, Lincoln, NE, on the brief), for appellees., Robert J. Hallstrom, Brandt & Horan, Syracuse, NE, Ronald J. Sedlacek, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln, NE, for Amici on Behalf of Appellees., Jessica Dunsay Silver, Sarah E. Harrington, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division-Appellate Section Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC, for Amicus on Behalf of Appellees.