9th Circuit Rules that Card Tables Used for Expressive Activity Cannot be Banned

On October 20, the 9th circuit ruled 3-0 that a Las Vegas ordinance banning card tables from a public street that is closed to cars and open to pedestrians, is unconstitutional, as applied to those who are using the card table for expressive activity (as opposed to commercial activity). The case is ACLU of Nevada v City of Las Vegas, 05-15667. Although the plaintiffs were more interested in passing out literature than in petitioning, the opinion clearly helps those who desire to obtain signatures on a petition.