October Term 2002 · Docket 02-371
Can a city ban loitering without violating free speech rights?
Richmond banned loitering to stop drug sales. Hicks argues this law targets protected speech.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
The city claims the ordinance targets criminal conduct, not speech.
Hicks claims the ordinance chills protected expression by requiring proof of purpose.
The city argues public housing residents need protection from drug markets.
Hicks argues the law restricts basic movement without clear justification.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if a general anti-loitering law violates the First Amendment. The city claims the rule targets criminal conduct, not speech. Hicks claims the rule chills protected expression.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 30, 2003.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-39
What each side wants
The city wants the court to uphold the loitering ban as a valid safety measure.
Hicks wants the court to strike down the ban as a violation of free speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-41
What each side says
The city argues the law targets conduct, not speech, so First Amendment rules do not apply.
Hicks argues the law is overbroad and chills protected expression by requiring proof of purpose.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-41
What the justices asked
Does a general law against loitering target speech or conduct?
Can a city require proof of purpose to walk on a sidewalk?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-39
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of city power to regulate public spaces. It affects how residents use sidewalks and streets. It balances public safety against individual freedom of movement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-41
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 37-39
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 41-41
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.