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In a unanimous decision Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that freedom of speech trumps the whims of local bureaucrats. Reed v. Town of Gilbert also provided a victory for religious expression as the plaintiff represents a small church in the Arizona community.
Most judges would be red-faced in the extreme if their decision was reversed unanimously by the Supreme Court. I wonder if that is true of 9th circuit judges.
Amazingly, the two judges who were reversed were Bush appointees while the dissenting judge, with whom the Supreme Court agreed, was an Obama appointee. Go figure.
That is what happens when you mess with God.
Shockingly, a 9th circuit decision is overturned.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security
Yes, but why so subtle? Couldn’t He throw a bolt every now and then? ;-)
Clyde is a minister in our denomination (the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church) and a great guy. We prayed for this last week at our annual Synod meeting.
Us Seceders are quite happy this week. :)
Thanks for sharing this, Jon.
Watch the town respond by severely limiting all signage now. A wounded bureaucrat is a wonder to behold.
Next week, put out a humongous f***ing sign.
God bless the Alliance Defending Freedom.
And thanks for posting this, Jon.
I’m sure the taxpayers of Gilbert appreciate the city pursuing this to the Supreme Court. Who’s paying the city’s legal bills?
Good post.
On a related note: Can we get Congress to create a new district court to remove the non-coastal states from the 9th? Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and Alaska have very little in common with California. Let those liberal West coast states (and Hawaii) be on their own.
I’m starting to like Newt Gingrich’s idea of hauling judges before Congress for questioning (at least, I think that was his idea, I may not be remembering correctly). If the lower courts are going to be pulling this crap than perhaps we should begin talking about revising the federal RFRA law.
I hope people will read the Court’s opinion now
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/13-502_9olb.pdf
to get a primer on the law of strict scrutiny, rational basis, and government discrimination. Because I have a strong suspicion that in a few weeks, those Constitutional principles are going to be a lot more unpopular around here than they are today.
Shorter Kagan/Ginsberg: “We agree, but we want to leave the door open to restricting speech when we want to.”
I don’t know if it is imprecise writing, but is also appears that the town of Gilbert employs an entire department dedicated to the Sign Code lead by a “Sign Code compliance manager.”
Bingo. This supports my suspicion that the Nazi Party began as a Homeowner’s Association that got out of hand.
You’re such a cynic, Douglas. I appreciate it, and I thank you sincerely for the tutoring.
There is no passion like that of a functionary for his function.