Full opinion text
ORDER BUTLER, Chief Judge. This case is before this Court upon Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction under Rule 65 of the FedeRal Rules of Civil PROCeduRe to prevent Defendants, Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission (“JIC”) and Alabama State Bar-Office of General Counsel (“ASB”), from enforcing allegedly unconstitutional “enforcement policies” contained in their respective Advisory Opinions in violation of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution (“U.S. Const.”). Specifically, this matter comes before this Court on Plaintiffs’ Verified Complaint (Doc. 1) and Motion For A Preliminary Injunction (Doc. 3) in addition to Plaintiffs’ Motion To Consolidate Hearing On Plaintiffs’ Motion For Preliminary Injunction With Trial On The Merits Of Plaintiffs’ Verified Complaint (Doc. 5); Defendants’ Motion To Dismiss (Doc. 13) and Objection To Plaintiffs’ Motion To Consolidate (Doc. 16); and, Defendants’ Objection To Consolidation (Doc. 19) and Motion To Dismiss. (Doc. 20). This Court, cognizant of the importance of this matter and after careful consideration of all the issues, finds and it is hereby ORDERED that the Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss are now MOOT as Plaintiffs’ Motion For A Preliminary Injunction is due to be GRANTED for the foregoing reasons as follows. I. BACKGROUND A. Procedural History On September 26, 2000, Plaintiffs filed a complaint and preliminary injunction motion as well as a motion to consolidate. (Docs. 1, 2, and 5). The JIC and ASB Defendants objected, filing their respective motions to dismiss, oppositions to the preliminary injunction, and objections to consolidation. (Docs. 13, 15, 16, 18-20). On October 10, 2000, this Court held a hearing on the Plaintiffs’ requested preliminary injunction and at that time, granted the oral motion made in open court by the Defendants to dismiss Defendants O’Rear, Boyd, Donaldson, and Lazenby, individual members of the Alabama State Bar, from this action (Doc. 32). B. Factual History This action arises out of the Plaintiffs’ 2000 candidacy for various judicial seats on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, as well as from the Christian Coalition of Alabama’s (“CCA”) desire to publish voter guides regarding judges and judicial candidates. Plaintiffs filed this action under the Civil Rights Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1988, and the First and Fourteenth Amendments, contending that the Defendants violated their rights of free speech, as findings included in two Advisory Opinions issued by the Defendants allegedly establish an unconstitutional “as-applied” interpretation of the Alabama CaNOns of Judioial Ethics (“Canons”) resulting in an “enforcement policy” which allegedly precludes judges and judicial candidates from responding to, and the CCA from receiving and publishing responses to, the original CCA thirty (80) question survey questionnaire. The Plaintiffs include: Craig Pittman, Greg Shaw, and Alice Martin, Alabama residents and candidates for statewide judicial offices in Alabama’s upcoming November 7, 2000, election; the CCA, a non-profit, non-partisan, education and lobbying organization that publishes voter guides to educate its members and other citizens about candidates for public office; and, Judge John Crawley, Alabama resident and judge on the Court of Civil Appeals, who is currently campaigning for re-election and is presently a member of the JIC. The Defendants include: Randall L. Cole, Norman E. Waldrop, Jr., James M. White, P. Ben McLauchlin, Lee E. Portis, David Scott, Greg Sullivan, and Mark White, sued in their official capacity as individual members of the Alabama JIC, which was created by Alabama Constitutional Amendment No. 581 § 6.17 and pursuant to § 6.17(b) has the “authority to conduct investigations and receive or initiate complaints concerning any judge of a court of the judicial system of .... [Alabama];” and, J. Anthony McLain, sued in his official capacity as ASB General Counsel, who may initiate proceedings regarding disciplinary procedures administered by the Alabama Disciplinary Commission pursuant to Alabama. Rules of DisoiplinaRY PROCEDURE, Rule 1(a)(1) and 3. II. DISCUSSION “The law is not a series of calculating machines where definitions and answers come tumbling out when the right levers are pushed.” A. Background 1. Arguments Plaintiffs allege that this action for declarative and injunctive relief arises under the First and Fourteenth Amendments as the case concerns the constitutionality of “enforcement policies” contained in the JIC and ASB Advisory Opinions which allegedly accomplish an unconstitutional “as-applied” interpretation of the Canons in violation of the First Amendment, because the “policies” infringe upon the CCA’s and judicial candidates’ rights to free and protected speech. (Compilé 1-2). Specifically, the Plaintiffs contend that the JIC and ASB’s “enforcement policy” chills judicial candidates’ free speech by interpreting Canons 2A, 3A(1), 3A(6), 7B(l)(a), and 7(B)(c), to prohibit candidates from expressing their views on legal and political issues and from responding to the CCA questionnaire that seeks to ascertain the candidates’ views on certain issues. Id. ¶ 2. Plaintiffs also argue that the “enforcement policy” prohibits the CCA from receiving the judicial candidates’ responses, which in turn prohibits the CCA and its members from receiving and publishing such political speech. Id. In contrast, the JIC Defendants argue that the CCA questionnaire is intended “to give its members and the public an idea of how a judge might rule on certain hot button issues[,]” as “[i]f it does not accomplish that purpose, then it has no value.” (Doc. 18 at 5). The JIC Defendants argue that it is apparent the CCA wants to know in advance how judges will rule on certain issues, but “the Canons require that judges maintain not only independence of thought with respect to all issues, but also the apparent independence of thought.” Id. The JIC Defendants note: [vjirtually ever case cited by Plaintiffs in their injunction memorandum recognizes the compelling state interest in ensuring the independence of the judiciary as well as the appearance of independence. The cases recognize a competing interest in a candidate’s right to express his views, and the cases reflect tension and disagreement as to how those competing interests must be balanced. Id. Further, the ASB Defendants argue that the CCA questionnaire calls for a “ ‘promise of conduct in office’ or an announcement of the candidate’s conclusions of law on issues that the candidate would be called upon to decide as a judge.” (Doc. 15 at 11). The ASB Defendants note that “[i]t is only those questions ... that the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit the candidate from answeringt,]” and that “[njothing in the opinion prohibits judicial candidates or even suggests that the candidates should not respond to the questionnaire.” Id. The ASB Defendants contend the opinion “merely advises that most of the questions call for responses that are prohibited under the Canons ... and, consequently, the Rules.... ” Id. The ASB Defendants add that “[ojbviously, the CCA understood that the questions could be considered improper for judicial candidates,” because the questionnaire provides a ‘decline’ option if the candidate believes to respond would be violative of the Canons. Id. As such, the ASB argues that the Plaintiffs’ claim that the informal Advisory Opinion “chills” the ability to answer to, as well as receive and publish, questionnaires in the CCA voter guide, “is based on a mischaracterization of the facts.” Id. 2. Relevant Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics (“Canons.?”) Pursuant to the Alabama Constitution of 1901, as amended, the JIC and the Court of the Judiciary were established to enforce the Canons, which govern the character and conduct of judges and judicial candidates in the State of Alabama and have the force and effect of law. See Ala. Const, of 1901, Amend. 581, §§ 6.17 and 6,18. The Supreme Court of Alabama adopted the Canons in 1976, as a code for judges and judicial candidates, and a declaration of that which the people of Alabama have a right to expect of them. See Canons Preamble (effective February 1, 1976). Additionally, pursuant to the Ala. Const. Amend. 581, “[t]he Supreme Court shall adopt rules governing the procedures of the [JIC] commission.” See Ala. Const. Amend. No. 581 § 6.17(c). The Alabama code of legal ethics, as cast in the Canons, declares the following. Canon 2A, entitled, “A Judge Should Avoid Impropriety And The Appearance Of Impropriety In All His Activities,” expounds that “[a] judge should respect and comply with the law and should conduct himself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” Additionally, the accompanying commentary provides that “[public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges[,]” so that: [a] judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. He must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny. He must ... accept restrictions on his conduct that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly. See Canon 2A (Commentary). Moreover, Canon 3, entitled, “A Judge Should Perform The Duties Of His Office Impartially And Diligently,” states that: [t]he judicial activities of a judge take precedence over his other activities. His judicial duties include all the duties of his office prescribed by law. In the performance of these duties, the following standards apply: ... [A(l) ] A judge should be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it. He should be unswayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism. See CANON 3A(1). As such, the judge has “[t]he duty to hear all proceedings fairly and with patience” as “[e]ourts can be efficient and businesslike while being patient and deliberate.” See CANON 3 (Commentary). Canon 3A(6) also articulates that: A judge should abstain from public comment about a pending or impending proceeding in any court, and should require similar abstention on the part of court personnel subject to his direction and control. This subsection does not prohibit judges from making public statements in the course of their official duties or from explaining for public information the procedures of the court. Further, Canon 7B, entitled, “A Judge Or A Judicial Candidate Shall Refrain From Political Activity Inappropriate To Judicial Office,” provides that under 7B(l)(a) as relates to campaign conduct: [a] candidate for judicial office ... (a) [sjhall maintain the dignity appropriate to judicial office[J ... [and] (c) [s]hall not make any promise of conduct in office other than the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of the office; shall not announce in advance the candidate’s conclusions of law on pending litigation; and shall not misrepresent his or her identity, qualification, present position, or other fact. See Canon 7B(1)(c). 3. Relevant Advisory Opinions Specifically, with the aforementioned Canons in mind, this Court may now turn to the literal text of the JIC and ASB Advisory Opinions, which interpret various provisions of the Canons to the original CCA 30 questions survey questionnaire, finding allegedly unconstitutional “as-applied” assessments. The JIC first addressed the issue of questionnaires issued to judicial candidates in Advisory Opinion 94-537, on December 1, 1994. The JIC, by unanimous decision, determined that questionnaires submitted to a candidate for judicial office during a political election campaign can be problematic, as “[t]he general sense of these [ethics advisory] opinions is that anything that could be interpreted as a pledge that the candidate will take a particular approach in deciding cases or a particular class of cases is prohibited.” (JIC Ad.Op. 94-537 at 1). The JIC continued, stating that: [m]ost advisory opinions addressing the use of questionnaires in judicial campaigns strongly disapprove of the practice .... judicial candidates have been advjsed to refuse to respond to questionnaires from political organizations concerning gun control, abortion, the Equal Rights Amendment, regulation of condominiums, and the right to work. Id. The JIC also noted that usually, judicial candidates “may neither initiate discussion of specific recent cases nor respond to questions concerning such cases.” Id. Moreover, on September 8, 2000, the JIC issued Advisory Opinion 00-763, as to whether judicial candidates could respond to this particular CCA 30 questions survey questionnaire at issue here, which was to be used in preparation of the CCA’s voter guide. The JIC determined that judicial candidates could not respond, “except to decline to answer the inquiries presented.” (JIC Adv.Op. 00-763 at 1). The JIC characterized the CCA questionnaire, as inquiring: about whether the candidate’s views are consistent with various United States Supreme Court rulings, and how the candidate would apply those rulings; whether the candidate would uphold as constitutional certain hypothetical statutory provisions; what the candidate’s interpretation is of certain provisions of the United States and state constitutions; and that the candidate’s views are on such political topics as legalized gambling, gun control, sexual orientation, prayer in public school, the National Endowment of the Arts, voter identification, tort reform, abortion, and class action lawsuits. Id. The JIC noted that it previously addressed the subject of questionnaires in 1994 and at that time, “concluded that judicial candidates should not respond to questions concerning issues that are likely to come before them in their judicial capacity.” Id. The JIC also stated then, that “an expression of intent to disregard precedent would be unethical.” Id. In addressing the recent inquiry as to the specific CCA questionnaire, the JIC reviewed Canons 7B(l)(a) and (c), 2A, 3A(1) and (6). Id. at 1-2. The JIC found that: [t]he inquires under consideration in the questionnaire at issue call for or appear to solicit the judicial candidate’s predisposition toward specific legal views on matters pending or impending before any number of trial and appellate courts. Some of the questions call for the candidate to comment on issues that are likely to come before the candidate if elected judge. A judge’s response to such questions would clearly violate Canon 3A(6) .... Id. at 2 (citing In Re Matter of Sheffield, 465 So.2d 350, 355 (Ala.1984), reh’g denied (1985); and, Riddle v. State, 669 So.2d 1014, 1020 (Ala.Crim.App.1994), reh’g denied, cert. denied, 661 So.2d 274 (1994)). The JIC found that “[mjany of the inquires under consideration tend to indicate that the candidate, if elected, would be predisposed to ruling in a certain manner on the subject issues[,]” and responses to such inquiries would be “proscribed” by Canon 7B(l)(e) “against judicial candidates making any promise of conduct in office other than the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of the office and announcing their conclusions of law on pending litigation.” (JIC Ad.Op. 00-763 at 2). The JIC also stated that such responses would “impair a judge’s obligations under Canon 2A, thereby jeopardizing public confidence in the law and in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary[,]” as “[i]t is not appropriate for a judicial candidate to answer questions which are intended to, or will have the effect of, committing the candidate to a course of action with respect to issues likely to come before the court.” Id. Additionally, the JIC noted that for the inquiries which involve U.S. Supreme Court rulings, “it has previously concluded that a judicial candidate may not express an intent to disregard precedent[,]” so that a judicial candidate “should not give the impression to anyone that the candidate would disregard controlling judicial authority as this would encourage disrespect for the law and/or the judicial office.” Id. The JIC also found that other questions in the survey “appear to solicit answers that would tend to embroil the judicial candidate in political debate that is inappropriate to the dignity of the judicial offiee[,]” and for a candidate to respond to these questions “gives the appearance of a lack of impartiality or of pandering to certain interests, and places the judge in the role of a political advocate.” (JIC Ad.Op. GO-763 at 2). Thus, the JIC concluded that “[a] judge must avoid any statements which could be interpreted as a pledge of judicial conduct or which appeal to prejudices or special interests!,]” as “[a]n impartial judiciary is indispensable to our system of justice.” Id. Further, the ASB Office of General Counsel issued an informal Advisory Opinion on September 11, 2000. In the Advisory Opinion, the ASB noted that it was an opinion in response to the inquiry of whether a judicial candidate “may ethically respond to this [CCA] questionnaire,” so that in responding, it was providing an informal opinion of the OGC and “is not binding on the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar.” (ASB Ad.Op. at 1). The ASB found the CCA questionnaire inappropriate, citing Rule 8.2(b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the ASB, which provides that “[a] lawyer who is a candidate for judicial office shall eom-ply with the applicable provision of the Alabama Canons ... and failure to so comply ... shall constitute a violation of this disciplinary rule.” Id. The ASB Advisory Opinion cited Canon 7B(l)(c) in support of its finding that: [a] review of the [CCA] ... questionnaire conclusively establishes that most, if not all, of the questions presented request you to make a promise of conduct in office or to announce in advance your conclusions of law on issues you would be called upon to decide as a judge .... any response to such questions would constitute a direct violation ... [of Canon 7B(1)(c) so that] you are ethically prohibited by Rule 8.2(b) ... from responding to such questions. (ASB Ad.Op. at 2). B. SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION Do The Plaintiffs Have Standing So That This Case Presents A Ripe And Justiciable Case Or Controver sy? sy? Prior to reaching the merits of this action, this Court must first determine whether the Plaintiffs have standing to bring a FiRST Amendment challenge to the JIC and ASB Advisory Opinions interpreting the CANONS “as-applied,” as “[w]e cannot proceed without determining that standing exists, even if both parties concede jurisdiction.” See Hallandale Professional Fire Fighters Local 2238 v. City of Hallandale, 922 F.2d 756, 759 (11th Cir.1991); and, White’s Place, Inc. v. Glover, 222 F.3d 1327, 1328 (11th Cir.2000). Here, this Court finds that the Plaintiffs are currently equipped with sufficient tools with which to properly build a sound foundation for First Amendment standing. 1. Federal Standard For Standing and Ripeness Aeticle III of the U.S. Constitution limits the jurisdiction of the federal courts to cases and controversies of sufficient concreteness to evidence a ripeness for review. See U.S. Const. Art. Ill § 2 Cl. 1; Hallandale, 922 F.2d at 759. The ripeness doctrine involves consideration of both jurisdictional and prudential concerns. See Johnson v. Sikes, 730 F.2d 644, 648 (11th Cir.1984). Indeed, “[ejven when the constitutional minimum has been met ... prudential considerations may still counsel judicial restraint.” See Action Alliance of Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia v. Heckler, 789 F.2d 931, 940 n. 12 (D.C.Cir.1986); Digital Properties Inc. v. City of Plantation, 121 F.3d 586, 589 (11th Cir.1997); and, Johnson, 730 F.2d at 648. The ripeness doctrine prevents and protects federal courts from engaging in speculation or wasting their resources through a review of only potential or abstract disputes, as “[t]he doctrine seeks to avoid entangling courts in the hazards of premature adjudication.” See Felmeister v. Office of Attorney Ethics, 856 F.2d 529, 535 (3d Cir.1988); and, Digital, 121 F.3d at 589. To determine ripeness or the jus-ticiable nature of a claim, the federal court must assess the fitness of the issues for judicial decision and the hardship to the parties of withholding court consideration. See Cheffer v. Reno, 55 F.3d 1517, 1524 (11th Cir.1995); and, Coalition For Abolition of Marijuana Prohibition v. City of Atlanta, 219 F.3d 1301; 1315 (11th Cir.2000). As such, this Court must resolve “whether there is sufficient injury to meet Article Ill’s requirement of a case or controversy and, if so, whether the claim is sufficiently mature, and the issues sufficiently defined and concrete, to permit effective decision making by the court.” See Cheffer, 55 F.3d at 1524; and Coalition For Abolition, 219 F.3d at 1315. Thus, the determination of ripeness is a crucial assessment, as it “goes to whether the district court had subject matter jurisdiction to hear the case.” See Greenbriar, Ltd. v. City of Alabaster, 881 F.2d 1570, 1573 n. 7 (11th Cir.1989), reh’g denied, 893 F.2d 346 (1989). Notably, as originally explicated by the Supreme Court in Valley Forge Christian College v. Americans United For Separation of Church & State, Inc., 454 U.S. 464, 102 S.Ct. 752, 70 L.Ed.2d 700 (1982), and later enunciated by the Eleventh Circuit, the constitutional core of standing encompasses three elements. The Plaintiff invoking federal court authority must show that: 1) there is a suffering of some actual or threatened injury-in-fact as a result of the putatively illegal conduct of the Defendant; 2) the injury can fairly be traced to the Defendants’ conduct; and, 3) a favorable decision is likely to redress that injury. See Wilson v. State Bar of Georgia, 132 F.3d 1422, 1427 (11th Cir.1998). 2. Application The crux of Plaintiffs’ contentions centers on the argument that as a result of the aforementioned Advisory Opinions: judicial candidates have refused to answer, or mail in, the CCA questionnaire “in spite of their expressed desire to do so[;]” candidates who did answer some or all of the questions and/or sent them to the CCA have since requested that the CCA not use the answers given; and, because the CCA wishes to receive and publish information on the candidates’ views derived from answers to at least some of the questions on the survey, the actions of the JIC and ASB have prevented the candidates and the CCA from exercising their FiRst AMENDMENT rights to freedom of speech. (CompLUH 15-17). Specifically, the Plaintiffs assert that the candidates’ interest in providing, and the CCA’s desire to receive and publish, information regarding the candidates’ personal and judicial philosophy (as requested in questions 5, 13, and 30), as well as the candidates’ views on social issues commonly mentioned in public and political debate (as set forth in questions 4, 16, 17-24, 26, and 29), has been violated. Id. ¶ 17. In contrast, generally, both JIC and ASB Defendants argue: this Court should dismiss the action due to lack of jurisdiction as there is no justiciable controversy because the Plaintiffs lack standing; the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; the Plaintiffs have not exhausted their possible remedies; abstention is proper under the Railroad Commission v. Pullman Co., (Pullman), 312 U.S. 496, 61 S.Ct. 643, 85 L.Ed. 971 (1941), abstention doctrine; and, the claims presented are without merit. (Docs. 13, 15 and 18-20). Specifically, the JIC Defendants argue that the issues raised in Plaintiffs’ Complaint are not ripe for review so that this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction. (Doc. 18 at 12-13 (citing Digital, 121 F.3d at 589)). The JIC Defendants add that the JIC’s “function of giving advisory opinions and its function of considering whether to file a charge against a judge for violating the Canons ... are two separate and distinct functions.” Id. at 2-3. Moreover, the ASB Defendants argue the aforementioned grounds based on their assertion that this case is procedurally similar to Digital, in that Digital’s “rush to the courthouse was premature” as Digital had failed to exhaust its available remedies at law. (Doc. 15 at 6). Additionally, the ASB Defendants argue that the informal Advisory Opinion does not prohibit or warn against responding to the questionnaire, asserting that “[i]t is only those questions ... that the Alabama Rules ... would prohibit the candidate from answering[,]” as “[n]othing in the opinion prohibits judicial candidates or even suggests that the candidates should not respond to the questionnaire.” Id. at 11. Thus, the ASB Defendants claim that “[t]he informal advisory opinion is merely a confirmation of that understanding.” Id. Here, although there is no specific evidence before this Court to date as to pending disciplinary actions by the ASB or JIC against the Plaintiffs, no charges have been filed, and the Defendants’ pleadings with this Court suggest that the Advisory Opinions are not binding, this Court finds, in light of the following analysis and application of the U.S. Supreme Court’s applicable lower standing threshold for FIRST Amendment claims, the Plaintiffs’ contentions of self-censorship coupled with the possibility of future disciplinary action if the Plaintiffs act in contravention to the Advisory Opinions, constitute sufficient viable grounds for FIRST Amendment standing. a. Injury-In-Fact As noted by the U.S. Supreme Court in Valley Forge, 454 U.S. at 472, 102 S.Ct. 752, in a federal court’s assessment of standing, the actual injury requirement is vital, as it “tends to assure that the legal questions presented to the court will be resolved, not in the ratified atmosphere of a debating society, but in a concrete factual context conducive to a realistic appreciation of the consequences of judicial action.” Here, because this action involves the First Amendment and time is of the essence due to the upcoming election, the query as to whether the CCA and judicial candidates possess standing hinges on this first element — the existence of an actual or threatened injury — and this inquiry is by necessity “case-specific.” See Wilson, 132 F.3d at 1428. Indeed, even though the federal standard for standing is somewhat elevated, due to the special nature of this action — a claim for an alleged violation of an organization’s and judicial candidates’ free speech rights — this Court must heed and apply the fact that the Supreme Court has relaxed the traditional rules of standing for challenges in the area of the First Amendment, by ‘no[t] requiring] that the person making the attack demonstrate that his own conduct could not be regulated by a statute drawn with the requisite narrow specificity.’ See White’s Place, 222 F.3d at 1329 (citing Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 612, 93 S.Ct. 2908, 37 L.Ed.2d 830 (1973) (emphasis added)). Notably, this Court takes exceptional recognition of the fact that “[i]n the First Amendment realm, [Pjlaintiffs do not have to expose themselves to enforcement in order to challenge a law[,j” as instead, “an actual injury can exist when the plaintiff is chilled from exercising her right to free expression or forgoes expression in order to avoid enforcement consequences. ” See Jacobs v. The Florida Bar, 50 F.3d 901, 904 (11th Cir.1995), reh’g and suggestion for reh’g en banc denied (1995); and, Wilson, 132 F.3d at 1428 (emphasis added). “In such an instance, which is what is alleged here, [one of] the injuries] is self-censorship.” See Wilson, 132 F.3d at 1428 (citing ACLU v. The Florida Bar, 999 F.2d 1486,1492 (11th Cir.1993)). Federal courts will not force a plaintiff to choose between intentionally violating a law just to gain access to judicial review, and foregoing what he or she believes to be constitutionally protected activity to avoid prosecution. See Leverett v. City of Pinellas Park, 775 F.2d 1536, 1538 (11th Cir.1985) (per curiam). However, this Court also notes that: if no credible threat of prosecution looms, the chill is insufficient to sustain the burden that Article III imposes. A party’s subjective fear that she may be prosecuted for engaging in expressive activity will not be held to constitute an injury for standing purposes unless that fear is objectively reasonable. See ACLU, 999 F.2d at 1492 and n. 13. Accordingly, “the threat of prosecution ... must be genuine; speculative or imaginary threats will not confer standingfj” as “even in a first amendment context the injury-to-the-plaintiff requirement cannot be ignored.” See White’s Place, 222 F.3d at 1329; and, Hallandale, 922 F.2d at 760 (emphasis added). It is this standard which guides this Court, in finding that the Plaintiffs have standing to pursue this action, as the injury-to-the-Plaintiffs is manifested in the genuine and credible threat of prosecution in the form of potential future disciplinary action as well as through the Plaintiffs’ self-censorship resulting from a fear of enforcement of the Defendants’ Advisory Opinions’ “enforcement policies.” Specifically, the “injury in fact” standing element — an invasion of a legally protected interests which is concrete and particularized, actual or imminent, and not conjectural or hypothetical — has been established by the Plaintiffs. See Kemler v. Poston, 108 F.Supp.2d 529, 534 (E.D.Va. 2000) (holding that plaintiffs lacked standing because the case was not ripe for adjudication). Plaintiffs have alleged an injury that is “distinct and palpable[,]” by clearly setting forth facts sufficient to satisfy the Aeticle III requirements as “a federal court is powerless to create its own jurisdiction by embellishing otherwise deficient allegations of standing.” Id. Although these same principles have been applied to foreclose the exercise of federal jurisdiction in the face of injury apprehended upon future contingencies, this Court finds that the credible threat of future prosecution is not so attenuated as to depend upon numerous or unascertaina-ble contingencies to deprive the Plaintiffs of a finding of “injury-in-fact.” Even though, generally, only rarely will allegations of a possible future injury satisfy the standing requirements of Article III, certain circumstances, such as when standing requirements arise in the context of First Amendment claims due, allow for findings of an “injury-in-fact” as to future injuries due to the special nature of the amendment, the importance of the rights secured, and the unique jurisprudence interpreting it. See Kemler, 108 F.Supp.2d at 535. Thus, Court finds that although the injury here may indeed depend on future contingencies, although not making any determination as to the merits of this case, the restriction of free speech rights at the present time is sufficient to produce a chilling effect to the CCA and judicial candidates concerned so that the standing requirements, as appropriately relaxed in this First Amendment claim, are met. Moreover, the U.S. Supreme Court has noted that “[wjithin the context of the First Amendment, the Court has enunciated other concerns that justify a lessening of prudential limitations on standing!,]” so that “when there is a danger of chilling free speech, the concern that constitutional adjudication be avoided whenever possible may be outweighed by society’s interest in having the statute challenged.” See Secretary of State of Maryland v. Joseph H. Munson Co., Inc., 467 U.S. 947, 956, 104 S.Ct. 2839, 81 L.Ed.2d 786 (1984). Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that constitutional violations may occur from a deterrent or chilling effect of governmental regulations which fall short of a direct prohibition against the exercise of First Amendment rights, but tohich still impinge upon those rights indirectly. See Laird v. Tatum, 408 U.S. 1, 11, 92 S.Ct. 2318, 33 L.Ed.2d 154 (1972), reh’g denied, 409 U.S. 901, 93 S.Ct. 94, 34 L.Ed.2d 165, and leave to file for reh’g denied by 479 U.S. 911, 107 S.Ct. 309, 93 L.Ed.2d 284 (1986) (emphasis added). Here, the Plaintiffs’ rights are impinged upon directly through self-censorship and indirectly, through the credible threat of future prosecution. However, this Court notes that the requirement for claims implicating the First Amendment have “in no way eroded the established principle that to entitle a private individual to invoke the judicial power to determine the validity of ... [an] action he must show that he has sustained, or is immediately in danger of sustaining, a direct injury as a result of the action....” See Laird, 408 U.S. at 13, 92 S.Ct. 2318. The U.S. Supreme Court has noted that if indirect interference with the FiRst Amendment rights of an individual is alleged, the plaintiff must put forward proof of a “distinct and palpable” injury. See Meese v. Keene, 481 U.S. 465, 107 S.Ct. 1862, 95 L.Ed.2d 415 (1987). Here, although the Defendants suggest that the Advisory Opinions they rendered are not binding and that due to the change in the CCA questions (from thirty (30) to fifteen (15)) a different determination might be made as to the CCA’s and the candidates’ ability to respond to, and publish, the “new” questionnaire, this Court finds that at the present time and in light of the exigencies of the circumstances with an election date looming, the Advisory Opinions as presently cast impinge upon the rights of free speech enough that a direct injury of self censorship and fear of disciplinary action is sufficiently “distinct and palpable,” so that an “injury-in-fact” has resulted to the Plaintiffs. Finally, even the Defendants themselves recognize that “this [is] a pre-enforcement challenge based upon claimed First Amendment Rights and that the injury component of the case or controversy analysis is loosely applied.” (Doc. 15 at 7). Specifically, this Court notes the following regarding the respective arguments. Regarding self-censorship and future disciplinary action as comprising the alleged “injury-in-fact,” the Plaintiffs argue that “[t]hey are unable to make their views known so that the electorate may intelligently evaluate the candidates’ personal qualities and their positions on vital public issues before choosing among them on election day[,]” because “[t]hey cannot tell the public their views on constitutional rights or social policies” which prohibits the candidates from exercising them freedom of speech. (Doc. 1 ¶ 19). The Plaintiffs contend that the Defendants’ “enforcement policies” have created the “injury-in-fact” required for standing, as the policies chill the CCA’s and candidates’ speech because it requires the Plaintiffs “to withhold essential information from the voters as they seek to educate themselves and participate fully in our democracy.” Id. The Plaintiffs argue that they have no adequate remedy at law and that “[ijmmediate and irreparable injury, loss, and damage has occurred and will continue to occur as a result of the JIC’s and ASB’s enforcement policy chilling Plaintiffs’ free speech rights.” Id. ¶¶ 21-22. In contrast, the JIC Defendants argue that the Plaintiffs lack standing because there is not an “injury-in-fact,” due to the special nature of the Advisory Opinion. The JIC Defendants state that “[h]ere, Plaintiffs are challenging the constitutionality of a non-binding advisory opinion, not the validity of the Canon[s] which were interpreted in the advisory opinion and not the authority of the JIC to render the opinion[,]” and that “[b]ecause the opinion does not represent ‘a rule or regulation of an administrative board which carries with it the power of law or authority for enforcement,’ Plaintiffs have failed to present issues which are fit for judicial decision.” (Doc. 18 at 13). The JIC Defendants add that the Plaintiffs want this Court to intervene and rule that judicial candidates may answer the CCA questionnaire in full, alleging the advisory opinion has “chilled” candidates from doing so. Id. The JIC Defendants note however, that “no great hardship results from the candidates’ failure to answer these narrowly drafted questions because there are other means available for the CCOA and the public to obtain information about the candidates’ views on. political and legal issues[,]” and “[tjhis advisory opinion applies to this specific questionnaire only.” Id. Moreover, the ASB Defendants argue that this Court lacks jurisdiction in that it does not present a justiciable case or controversy involving the ASB. (Doc. 15 at 4). The ASB Defendants rely upon Article III of the U.S. Constitution as it limits the jurisdiction of the federal court to cases and controversies of sufficient concreteness ripe for review. Id. (citing Digital, 121 F.3d at 586; and Kemler, 108 F.Supp.2d 529)). The ASB Defendants argue the burden of establishing standing rests with the party who invokes federal jurisdiction. Id. (citing Bennett v. Spear, 520 U.S. 154, 167-68, 117 S.Ct. 1154, 137 L.Ed.2d 281 (1997); and, Valley Forge, 454 U.S. at 472, 102 S.Ct. 752. Further, the ASB Defendants argue that “[t]he reasonableness of the plaintiffs’ fear that the ASB Defendants will enforce the ‘enforcement policy’ against them is a determining factor in this regard.” Id. This Court, as other courts noted in Wilson and ACLU, agrees with the Defendants on that narrow ground, and finds that the Plaintiffs maintain a reasonably and objective belief that the enforcement policies will be used against them if they act in contravention to the findings of the Advisory Opinions. This Court finds the Defendants’ contentions that the non-binding nature of their Advisory Opinions equals no “injury-in-fact,” faulty at best. Common sense tells this Court that when an advisory body, in charge of governing the statewide conduct of the judiciary, issues some two-hundred (200) opinions over the past five (5) years directing specific individuals how to act and files charges at least once a year, judges or. judicial candidates, acting with reason, would be cited as acting unethically if they proceeded to act inapposite to the findings, if such opinions were taken lightly or tossed aside simply because they are “non-binding.” Additionally, as set forth by the U.S. Supreme Court, there does not have to be an actual charge brought before a plaintiff may assert a claim for a violation of free speech rights. Notably, here, the status of the Advisory Opinion as non-binding does not change the fact that the Plaintiffs will still reasonably and understandably fear disciplinary action if they act in contravention to the provided “advice.” After all, the role of the JIC and ASB is to provide guidance to the judiciary as to what constitutes proper ethical behavior to avoid acting in violation of the Canons in a way that would perpetrate charges. Surely they would not wish to encourage a presumption to flout such determinations Moreover, this Court finds that the assertion that the Plaintiffs lack standing and an injury-in-fact because they did not specifically request the advisory opinion at issue is not persuasive when viewed in light of the importance of avoiding a chilling effect of First Amendment rights. The Plaintiffs did not have to have a direct link to the Opinions because the Opinions’ very nature is to govern the conduct of the entire judiciary and set a standard for the entire judiciary to follow, even if only prompted by the request of one individual. Additionally, as to the ASB Defendant’s argument that the time of issuance of the opinion precludes injury-in-fact, that is not a persuasive factor here because even thought the ASB Opinion was issued after the deadline to respond to the CCA questionnaire, the Plaintiffs may have already engaged in self-censorship out of fear that the ASB would decide along similar lines as the JIC, and thus find responding a violation of the Canons “as-applied” to the questionnaire. Further, this Court finds that the ASB Defendants also argue, unpersuasively, that “[a]t a minimum, plaintiffs’ [sic] have an obligation to obtain a conclusive and binding response from those who have the power and authority to establish the Bar’s ‘enforcement policy’ prior to attempting to invoke the jurisdiction of this court.” Id. at 8 (citing Digital, 121 F.3d at 586). Plaintiffs were not required to seek such an opinion where they had already been instructed by a non-binding body (who would assumptively have a lower threshold status and easier hurdle for Plaintiffs to overcome) that responding violated the Canons. Thus, it is not reasonable to contend that the Plaintiffs would have been required to see if they could obtain a favorable binding opinion from an entity who has a much higher standard of determination. Indeed, this argument dismisses the fact that, in the Plaintiffs’ (and most likely other judges and candidates’) reasonable perception of the Advisory Opinions, it would be believed that an authoritative body has already spoken and although the findings are not technically “binding,” it simply is a matter of common sense to arrive at the conclusion that a judge or judicial candidate should not act in contravention to the finding of such an entity which was established to determine what comprises proper conduct in the judiciary. As such, this Court agrees with Plaintiffs’ contentions that they have standing due to the “injuries-in-fact” created from the JIC and ASB’s Advisory Opinions, as they constitute “[a] state action that chills First Amendment speech [which] is sufficient to create an actual injury, giving the injured party standing to bring suit.” (Doc. 30 at 1). Under the less stringent standard for First Amendment standing, the Plaintiffs do not have to expose themselves to actual enforcement or have a pending charge against them to challenge a law, as instead, “an actual injury can exist when the plaintiff is chilled from exercising her right to free expression or forgoes expression in order to avoid enforcement consequences.” See Wilson, 132 F.3d at 1428; and, Jacobs, 50 F.3d at 904. Plaintiffs have .established that they face an actual and imminent injury as they have already engaged in self-censorship and they reasonably fear disciplinary action if they act in contravention to the Advisory Opinions. Here, this Court finds that the Plaintiffs have demonstrated such a circumstance in that they have been chilled from exercising their rights to free speech, for purposes of finding standing, as they have had to forgo expression in the form of self-censorship and in order to avoid future disciplinary action. Notably, the Plaintiffs injury, as to their First Amendment rights to free speech being chilled, constitutes self-censorship which is “a harm that can be realized even without an actual prosecution[,]” in addition to the fear of prosecution. (Doc. 22 at 2) (citing Virginia v. American Booksellers Ass’n, Inc., 484 U.S. 383, 393, 108 S.Ct. 636, 98 L.Ed.2d 782 (1988), cert, question answered by 236 Va. 168, 372 S.E.2d 618; and, Wilson, 132 F.3d at 1428). Although this may or may not be sufficient to make a determination as to the merits of this claim at some later date if needed, this Court finds that for the present purposes, it provides sufficient standing in that the Plaintiffs apparently find themselves “between the Seylla of intentionally flouting [a stated ethical rule] and the Charybdis of forgoing what [they] believe to be constitutionally protected activity in order to avoid becoming enmeshed in [presumptively unethical behavior].” See Kemler, 108 F.Supp.2d at 536. b. Injury Traceable To Defendants’ Action To find standing, the federal courts must also find that the Plaintiffs’ injury is traceable to the Defendants’ allegedly illegal actions. Here, the Plaintiffs contend that “[a]s the result of the JIC’s and ASB’s direct action, the judicial candidates have been prohibited from expressing their personal views on legal and political matters of great importance to the voting public, and CCA cannot receive or publish this information from judicial candidates, both in violation of the First Amendment.” (Doc. 1). Plaintiffs’ argument that they have standing to make this First Amendment challenge because they have suffered the actual “injury-in-fact” of self censorship as well as a potential threatened injury-in-fact of disciplinary action, as a result of the putatively illegal conduct of the Defendant, is successful. (Doc. 30 at 5). Since the candidates have refused and will continue to refuse, to answer the questionnaire, the candidates personally suffer not only an actual but a threatened injury as well due to the Advisory Opinions in question. See ACLU, 999 F.2d at 1493; Virginia, 484 U.S. at 393, 108 S.Ct. 636 (concluding that plaintiffs alleged an actual and well-founded fear the law would be enforced against them and that the alleged danger of this statute is one of self-censorship — a harm that can be realized without an actual prosecution); and, Ackerson v. Kentucky Judicial Retirement and Removal Comm’n, 776 F.Supp. 309, 312 (W.D.Ky.1991) (finding that “a real possibility exists that sanctions will be sought” and so gave rise to an injury even though the judicial candidate had not yet been charged with an ethical violation). The Defendants assert regarding Plaintiffs’ claims of self-censorship and fear of disciplinary action, that any such injury, rather than being traceable to the Advisory Opinions, is more fairly traceable to CCA strategy decisions, suggesting that the CCA made a political complaint about the conduct of the Committee and declined to work with them to develop an acceptable questionnaire and that when the committee declined to approve it this year, the CCA “opted to send it out as written ... directing candidates to respond,” and has possibly timed this litigation to create the injuries asserted by the Plaintiffs. (Doc. 18 at 10-12). Additionally, the Defendants contend that the Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate the likelihood of disciplinary action was “so great as to constitute an imminent threat of prosecution[,]” and that “[t]he very nature of the advisory opinion undermines Plaintiffs argument.” Id. at 10. Specifically, the JIC Defendants note that advisory opinions are not binding and do not affect a party’s rights or remedies in that while the JIC can by majority vote, decide to bring charges for ethical violations, it has no authority to impose sanctions. Id. The JIC Defendants argue that “[t]he advisory opinion is just that: an opinion made in response to a specific inquiry meant to provide some guidance[,]” and that “[t]he opinion is not a warning that if certain action is taken charges will be brought.” Id. As such, the Defendants claim that the Plaintiffs have not adequately established that the state administrative structure which they seek to enjoin compels them to do, or to refrain from doing, anything. Accordingly, the Defendants assert that the Plaintiffs’ argument “depends on too many contingencies” as “[w]hen and if the Commission decides by majority vote to bring a charge before the Court of the Judiciary, there will be a hearing on the charge before that body, a violation may or may not be found, sanctions may or may not be imposed.” Id. Further, the ASB Defendants argue that the Plaintiffs alleged injury “cannot be fairly traced to the challenged conduct because the informal, non-binding advisory opinion was not issued to the named plaintiffs and because the opinion was not issued until after the CCA’s submission deadline[,]” so that “[i]t is illogical to contend that any actual or threatened injury can be traced to this opinion.” (Doc. 15). Thus, both Defendants argue that the Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate the alleged injury is “fairly traceable to the challenged action of the defendant[,]” as “[t]o say that issuance of a non-binding advisory opinion in and of itself causes a chilling effect, is to make too big of a leap.” (Doc. 18 at 11). This Court takes note of the Defendants’ arguments but finds, however, that if the JIC and ASB had not adopted the “enforcement policies,” as set forth in their respective Advisory Opinions, the candidates would have no need to refuse to answer the questions and would not fear charges for ethical violations, and essentially would not be before this Court presently. (Doc. 30 at 6). Although this “traceable” requirement may initially create a high hurdle for Plaintiffs, here, the Plaintiffs reach this bar. Indeed, the “injury-in-fact” of both self-censorship in being unable to answer and receive and publish the CCA questionnaire, in addition to the credible threat of disciplinary action, is directly traceable to the JIC’s and ASB’s Advisory Opinions for the simple clear fact that Plaintiffs would not be asking for this relief if they did not fear prosecution for acting in contravention to the Advisory Opinions. See e.g. Kemler, 108 F.Supp.2d at 539. Thus, although the Defendants’ claims may at the outset of analysis complicate the Plaintiffs’ causation analysis for “injury-in-fact,” this Court does not need to reach that step, as the initial self-censorship resulting from the issuance of the Advisory Opinions provides adequate and solid grounds upon which to find an “injury-in-fact.” Id. As such, the Defendants’ actions are indeed traceable to the Plaintiffs’ injuries. c. Redressable Injury To find standing for the Plaintiffs in this matter, this Court must determine that the Plaintiffs have a redressable injury. As to this element, the Plaintiffs contend that their “injury-in-fact” is indeed redressable by a favorable decision because the Advisory Opinions in question, which dictate proper conduct to the judiciary, establish an unconstitutional “as-applied” interpretation of the Canons. Additionally, the Plaintiffs contend that the Advisory Opinions, although technically non-binding, set the standard for proper ethical conduct in the judiciary, so that to act in direct contravention to the state agencies’ findings would surely engender disciplinary action. In contrast, the Defendants argue that the Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate with respect to their alleged injury that it is likely, as opposed to merely speculative, that the injury will be redressed by a favorable decision. The Defendants, in support of this claim for an attenuated possibility of enforcement, assert that their respective Advisory Opinions do not represent the law applicable to any judicial candidate in answering the questionnaire in that they are non-binding and are merely what they claim — informal and advisory. Indeed, the Defendants refer to the Canons which are always in force, arguing that the law is represented by the Canons, which Plaintiffs have not challenged, rather that in their Advisory Opinions, so that regardless of the “enforcement policies” of these Opinions, the Plaintiffs would still be under the same legal requirements with respect to responding to the questionnaire. (Doc. 18). Thus, the Defendants generally contend that the injuries asserted by the Plaintiffs would be better redressed by a direct challenge to the Canons, through an allegation that is unconstitutional on its face or as applied. (Doc. 18 at 12). Here, this Court finds that the Plaintiffs’ free speech rights have been chilled through self-censorship in that even though the conclusion that the Plaintiffs would be disciplined may be attenuated, as it relies upon some contingencies; however, the fact that the Plaintiffs have already had to restrict their speech through self-censorship, in not responding to, or receiving and publishing, the CCA questionnaire provides a possible redressable injury. The record reveals governmental restriction of speech that is regulatory in that the JIC and ASB regulate the conduct of judges in the State of Alabama, and, the prospect of actual enforcement of the Advisory Opinions, albeit unknown at this time, is not so attenuated by intervening contingencies that the “injury-in-fact” requirement necessary to support standing cannot be satisfied, especially in light of the extant “injury-in-fact” of self-censorship. C. PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION 1. Federal Standard For Preliminary Injunction The “grant or denial of a preliminary injunction is a decision within the sound discretion of the district court.” See Sierra Club v. Georgia Power Co., 180 F.3d 1309, 1310 (11th Cir.1999); United States v. Lambert, 695 F.2d 536, 539 (11th Cir.1983). Federal courts have interpreted several common law substantive requirements to apply when making a preliminary injunction determination. At the outset, to grant such an injunction, the court does not need to find the evidence “positively guarantees a final verdict in plaintiffs favor[,]” rather, the Eleventh Circuit provides that a preliminary injunction will issue when the movant shows: 1) substantial threat of irreparable injury if an injunction does not issue; 2) proof that the threatened injury to movant outweighs the potential harm caused to the non movant; 3) the injunction would not disserve public interests; and, 4) a substantial likelihood of success on, the merits. See Tefel v. Reno, 180 F.3d 1286 (11th Cir.1999), reh’g and suggestion for reh’g en banc denied by 198 F.3d 265 and cert. denied by — U.S. -, 120 S.Ct. 2657, 147 L.Ed.2d 272; Northeastern Florida, 896 F.2d at 1284; Levi Strauss & Co. v. Sunrise Int’l Trading Inc., 51 F.3d 982, 985 (11th Cir.1995); McDonald’s Corp. v. Robertson, 147 F.3d 1301, 1306 (11th Cir.1998); Cunningham v. Adams, 808 F.2d 815, 819 (11th Cir.1987); and Canal Auth. of the State of Florida, v. Callaway, 489 F.2d 567, 572 (5th Cir.1974). Indeed, the federal court “must exercise its discretion in light of the[se] four prerequisites for extraordinary relief of a preliminary injunction.” See Nnadi v. Richter, 976 F.2d 682, 690 (11th Cir.1992). As such, this Court is guided by the Eleventh Circuit’s preliminary injunction standard and finds as follows. 2. Application Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P.Rule 65, Plaintiffs ask this Court to preliminarily enjoin the Defendants from enforcing their respective “enforcement policies,” allegedly contained in the JIC and ASB Advisory Opinions at issue, by filing or considering disciplinary complaints based on these findings. The Defendants request that this Court deny injunctive relief because the Plaintiffs have failed to meet the standard for issuance of a preliminary injunction. a. Irreparable Harm In establishing irreparable harm, the Plaintiffs argue that the enforcement policy constitutes an unconstitutional infringement on Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights of speech and association, as “Plaintiffs are suffering the loss of First Amendment freedoms which, for even minimal periods of time, constitutes irreparable harm.” (Doc. 1 ¶ 5). Plaintiffs assert the balance of hardships “tips in the movants’ favor because of the core political speech at issue and the lack of a narrowly tailored means of accomplishing a compelling government interest in regulating the same.” Id. ¶ 6. The Plaintiffs argue that as long as the “enforcement policies” of the JIC and ASB Advisory Opinions remain in place, the Plaintiffs will suffer irreparable injury as neither the judicial candidates not the CCA will be able to engage in their protected speech, due to a fear of enforcement of the state “policy” against them. (Complf 2). Plaintiffs emphasize that the general election in November is “fast approaching[,]” but that as a result of the Advisory Opinions, several judicial candidates have refused to answer the CCA questionnaire although they would like to, so that they may inform the voters about their views. Id. at 3-4. In contrast, the Defendants argue that there is no irreparable injury to either the judicial candidates or the CCA, contending that the CCA “is responsible for placing itself-in its present position” and, the possibility of disciplinary action resulting from their Advisory Opinions depends upon “various contingencies.” (Doc. 18). Specifically, citing Buckley, 424 U.S. at 14, 52-53, 96 S.Ct. 612, Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214, 218, 86 S.Ct. 1434, 16 L.Ed.2d 484 (1966), and, Buckley v. Illinois, 997 F.2d at 231, the Plaintiffs contend that judicial candidates should have the unfettered opportunity to make their views known, as “[wjhile it is true that ‘the principle of impartial justice under law is strong enough to entitle government to restrict the freedom of speech of participants in the judicial process, [it is] not so strong as to place that process completely outside the scope of the constitutional guaranty of freedom of speech.’ ” (Compl. at 8). Plaintiffs argue that if the government decides to restrict free speech rights of judicial candidates and the CCA, it must do so in a way that recognizes the candidates’ right to campaign speech, the CCA’s right to receive and publish such speech, and the concomitant right of the public to be informed. Id. at 9 (citing ACLU, 744 F.Supp. at 1097). Moreover, the Plaintiffs assert that the judicial candidates and the CCA have already been irreparably harmed through self-censorship, in that they are prohibited from expressing and publishing their views on matters of public concern and will continue to be harmed, because they must say nothing about their views unless they wish to face ethical charges. (Compl. at 13). To meet the standard for finding an irreparable injury, the Plaintiffs must show that an irreparable harm or injury will be suffered unless the injunction issues. Here, this Court must keep in mind the special nature of this case and the understanding that “[i]t is well settled that the loss of First Amendment freedoms for even minimal'periods of time constitutes irreparable injury justifying the grant of a preliminary injunction.” See Cate, 707 F.2d at 1188; and, Elrod, 427 U.S. at 373, 96 S.Ct. 2673 (1976)) (emphasis added). It has also been noted that “direct penalization ... of First Amendment rights constitutes irreparable injury” for granting preliminary injunctions. Id. “In short, irreparable harm is not difficult to establish when the impairment of First Amendment rights is at issue.” See Butler v. Alabama Judicial Inquiry Comm’n, 111 F.Supp.2d 1241, 1249 (D.Ala.2000). This Court agrees and finds that due to the special nature of this claim, the rights it invokes, and the time frame involved, the Court must find irreparable injury as the Plaintiffs’ free speech rights, albeit through self-censorship, have been restricted since the issuance of the JIC and ASB Advisory Opinions. This Court finds that the Plaintiffs have adequately established that they have sustained and may continue to sustain irreparable injury unless the Defendants are enjoined from enforcing the Advisory Opinions. This Court is guided by the U.S. Supreme Court’s determination that any loss of First Amendment freedoms— even for minimal periods of time — can constitute irreparable injury. See Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 96 S.Ct. 2673, 49 L.Ed.2d 547 (1976); and, New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713, 91 S.Ct. 2140, 29 L.Ed.2d 822 (1971). The Eleventh Circuit has similarly held that on-going violations of the First Amendment constitute irreparable injury because chilled free speech, due to its intangible nature, cannot be redressed through monetary damages. See Cheffer, 6 F.3d 705; and, Cate v. Oldham, 707 F.2d 1176, 1189 (11th Cir.1983). Here, the Plaintiffs are not only subject to self-censorship, but additionally risk disciplinary action for what might later be deemed entirely ethical conduct. The irreparable harm caused by the restraint placed upon the Plaintiffs First Amendment freedoms cannot be remedied by an award of monetary, damages, as the Plaintiffs have already engaged in self-censorship and fear another injury in the form of disciplinary action. Therefore,