7th Circuit: Right to distribute religious literature affirmed
Horina v. City of Granite City, No. 07-1239, 07-2623
In a civil rights suit alleging that plaintiff’s First Amendment rights were violated by city ordinances regulating the distribution of handbills, judgment finding the ordinance unconstitutional is affirmed and award of compensatory damages is reversed where: 1) the ordinance was a content-neutral restriction on the time, place, and manner of speech that did not meet the constitutional requirements that it serve a substantial government interest, be narrowly tailored, and provide adequate alternative channels of communication; but 2) on remand, the issue of damages should be revisited with attention to actual injuries, if any, suffered by plaintiff.
Related:
Federal judge declares city ordinance barring distribution of religious literature unconstitutional
ADF Media Relations, 10.12.2006
Court awards damages to Illinois man cited for distribution of religious literature
ADF Media Relations, 01/10/2007