On February 23, 2009, the Supreme Court issued an order inviting the Acting Solicitor General of the United States (SG) to file a brief expressing the views of the United States on whether the Court should grant review of a recent antitrust ruling by the Seventh Circuit in a suit by a clothing business against the NFL and Reebok International, American Needle Inc. v. National Football League, 538 F.3d 736 (7th Cir. Aug. 18, 2008). This legal update explains what such an “Invitation” from the Court means and how it is that the United States sometimes comes to play a significant role in private litigation before the Supreme Court at the request of the Court.

Please see full update for more information.