REED v. TOWN OF GILBERT, 135 S. Ct. 2218 (2015)
- Argued:
- January 12, 2015
- Decided:
- June 18, 2015
- Decided by:
- Roberts Court, 2014
- Legal Principle at Issue:
- Whether a municipal sign code that restricts posting based on purpose is either content-based or content-neutral and, if content-based, whether the code survives strict scrutiny.
- Action:
- The Supreme Court held that code violated the First Amendment and reversed the Ninth Circuit.
Facts/Syllabus:
A local church without a permanent location often advertised its temporary meeting locations. The church’s signs were subject to a set of provisions in the local code that differed from others because of the sign’s purpose as a temporary sign. The church was notified that it had violated the sign provisions and subsequently sued the town.
Importance of Case:
The Court expanded the content discrimination principle and said a law can be content-based even if it was not passed for a discriminatory purpose. The Supreme Court stated: “Whether laws define regulated speech by particular subject matter or by its function or purpose, they are subject to strict scrutiny. The same is true for laws that, though facially content-neutral, cannot be ‘justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech,’ or were adopted by the government ‘because of disagreement with the message’ conveyed.” The Court held that the ordinance did not survive strict scrutiny.
Concurring Opinion
Anthony Kennedy Ruth Ginsburg Stephen Breyer Samuel Alito Sonia Sotomayor Elena Kagan
Dissenting Opinion
No opinions found
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- Content Neutrality
ERIC H. HOLDER, JR., ATTORNEY GENERAL, et al. v. HUMANITARIAN LAW PROJECT et al., 561 U.S. 1 (2010)
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UNITED STATES, et al. v. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, INC., et al., 539 U.S. 194 (2003)
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- Content Neutrality
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL v. AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, et al., 535 U.S. 564 (2002)
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- Content Neutrality
LEILA JEANNE HILL, AUDREY HIMMELMANN, AND EVERITT W. SIMPSON, JR. v. COLORADO, et al., 530 U.S. 703 (2000)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
UNITED STATES, et al. v. PLAYBOY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC., 529 U.S. 803 (2000)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
CITY OF ERIE, et al. v. PAP’S A. M., TDBA ‘KANDYLAND’, 529 U.S. 277 (2000)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM v. SCOTT HAROLD SOUTHWORTH, et al., 529 U.S. 217 (2000)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, et al. v. KAREN FINLEY, et al., 524 U.S. 569 (1998)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC., et al. v. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION et al., 520 U.S. 180 (1997)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
RONALD W. ROSENBERGER, et al. v. RECTOR AND VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA et al., 515 U.S. 819 (1995)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
JOHN J. HURLEY AND SOUTH BOSTON ALLIED WAR VETERANS COUNCIL v. IRISH-AMERICAN GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL GROUP OF BOSTON, ETC., et al., 515 U.S. 557 (1995)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
LAMB’S CHAPEL AND JOHN STEIGERWALD v. CENTER MORICHES UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT et al., 508 U.S. 384 (1993)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
CITY OF CINCINNATI v. DISCOVERY NETWORK, INC., et al., 507 U.S. 410 (1993)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
R.A.V. v. CITY OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, 505 U.S. 377 (1992)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
SIMON & SCHUSTER, INC. v. MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE CRIME VICTIMS BOARD, et al., 502 U.S. 105 (1991)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
LEATHERS, COMMISSIONER OF REVENUES OF ARKANSAS v. MEDLOCK et al., 499 U.S. 439 (1991)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
WARD et al. v. ROCK AGAINST RACISM, 491 U.S. 781 (1989)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
TEXAS v. JOHNSON, 491 U.S. 397 (1989)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
MICHAEL BOOS, J. MICHAEL WALLER AND BRIDGET BROOKER v. MARION S. BARRY, JR., MAYOR, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, et al., 485 U.S. 312 (1988)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
HAZELWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT et al. v. KUHLMEIER et al., 484 U.S. 260 (1988)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
ARKANSAS WRITERS’ PROJECT, INC. v. RAGLAND, COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE OF ARKANSAS, 481 U.S. 221 (1987)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
CITY OF RENTON et al. v. PLAYTIME THEATRES, INC., et al., 475 U.S. 41 (1986)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
CORNELIUS, ACTING DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT v. NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC., et al., 473 U.S. 788 (1985)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
REGAN, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, et al. v. TIME, INC., 468 U.S. 641 (1984)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
CLARK, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, et al. v. COMMUNITY FOR CREATIVE NON-VIOLENCE et al., 468 U.S. 288 (1984)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES et al. v. TAXPAYERS FOR VINCENT et al., 466 U.S. 789 (1984)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
PERRY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION v. PERRY LOCAL EDUCATORS’ ASSOCIATION et al., 460 U.S. 37 (1983)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
HEFFRON, SECRETARY AND MANAGER OF THE MINNESOTA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY BOARD OF MANAGERS, et al. v. INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, INC., et al., 452 U.S. 640 (1981)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
CAREY, STATE’S ATTORNEY OF COOK COUNTY v. BROWN et al., 447 U.S. 455 (1980)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC. v. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OF NEW YORK, 447 U.S. 530 (1980)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
HUDGENS v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD et al., 424 U.S. 507 (1976)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO et al. v. MOSLEY, 408 U.S. 92 (1972)
- Related Sub-Topic:
- Content Neutrality
External Resources:
- David L. Hudson Jr., “Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015),” First Amendment Encyclopedia.
Topics: Content Neutrality, Freedom of Speech & Expression
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