Philip Morris and its amici have filed the first batch of briefs on the merits in Philip Morris v. Williams (Williams III). (Click here for our prior post about the grant of certiorari in Williams III. The post contains the issued presented.)

Links (via the ABA):

Philip Morris’s opening brief on the merits.

Amicus brief of Pacific Legal Foundation in support of petitioner.

Amicus brief of National Association of Manufacturers in support of petitioner.

Amicus brief of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in support of petitioner.

Amicus brief of Associated Oregon Industries in support of petitioner.

Amicus brief of Washington Legal Foundation in support of petitioner.

Amicus brief of Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in support of neither party.

Note on terminology: I have been referring to this case as Williams II, even though it’s actually the third time the case has been before the Supreme Court. The first time around the Court simply GVR’d the case without an opinion. The second time around the Court issued an opinion. To me, it makes sense to call the first opinion Williams I and call this case Williams II, since it will generate the second Supreme Court opinion. But several of the briefs linked above refer to the first Supreme Court opinion as Williams II and this case as Williams III. To minimize confusion, I’ll adopt that same terminology from now on.