Attorney General Scott Pruitt announced that Oklahoma joined nine other states in an amicus, or friend of the court, brief in the United States Supreme Court to support an Arizona church’s fight against a local sign ordinance that the church says stifles its freedoms under the First Amendment.
The brief asks the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that upheld a sign ordinance passed by the Town of Gilbert, Ariz., which places size limitations on signs put up by churches and non-profit entities, but does not impose similar restrictions on other signs, including political signs. A local church, Good News Community Church, and its pastor, Clyde Reed, filed the lawsuit against the ordinance.
“Religious liberty is not only a fundamental right, but it was also one of the founding principles of our country,” Attorney General Pruitt said. “This current ruling of the Ninth Circuit creates an avenue for government to systematically favor speech, and in this case, disadvantage religious speech. By joining in the amicus brief, we hope to ensure that religious liberty continues to be protected by the First Amendment.”
The Town of Gilbert’s ordinance restricts signs promoting the events, meetings, or activities of non-profit groups, including local churches, while it broadly permits any political or ideological signs. For example, political signs can be up to 32 square feet, displayed for many months, and unlimited in number. An ideological sign can likewise be up to 20 square feet, displayed indefinitely, and unlimited in number. A church’s signs however can only be 6 square feet, may be displayed for no more than 14 hours, and are limited to four per property.
The brief was signed by attorneys general from nine other states, including West Virginia, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.
To read a copy of the amicus brief, go to http://bit.ly/1poMAH0.
