Right now there are a number of lawsuits making their way through the court system that will have major implications for how junk food and soda can be marketed to kids. Many food policy advocates are unaware of these cases – because they concern tobacco. But the implications are very real:  for example, in 2001 the Supreme Court ruled that a state law banning tobacco billboards near schools was unconstitutional, forestalling similar regulations aimed at limiting junk food advertising to kids.

Policy advocates who normally focus on obesity prevention can follow these tobacco marketing cases as they develop – and in some instances can get involved directly by filing amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs. Amicus briefs are submitted by individuals or organizations with a strong interest in the subject matter of a lawsuit who are not parties to the litigation. Through an amicus brief, policy advocates may be able to participate in a tobacco marketing case by adding a unique public health perspective to the mix. Contact us for more information about how to file an amicus brief.