October Term 2014 · Docket 13-502
Does a town sign law that treats political signs differently from other signs violate the First Amendment?
A town sign code treats political signs differently from other signs. One side says this violates free speech. The other side says the town needs flexible rules to manage signs.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
David Cortman argued for the sign owner. He said the town code discriminates based on what signs say. He said this violates the First Amendment.
Justice Roberts asked if political speech is more valuable than directions to a soccer game. He asked if this is fair.
Justice Alito asked if a yard sale sign has the same right as an election sign. He asked if this is fair.
Justice Kennedy asked if directional signs are a valid category. He asked if this is fair.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves a town sign code. The code treats political signs differently from other signs. One side says this violates free speech. The other side says the town needs flexible rules to manage signs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 17-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
The sign owner wants the Court to strike down the town sign code. The sign owner says the code violates free speech.
The town wants the Court to keep the sign code. The town says the code helps manage signs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 17-45
What each side says
The sign owner says the town code discriminates based on what signs say. The sign owner says this violates the First Amendment.
The town says strict scrutiny would limit speech. The town says it needs flexible rules to manage signs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 17-45
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if a wealthy person can put up many birthday signs. He asked if this is like political signs.
Justice Ginsburg asked if birthday signs get the same treatment as political signs. She asked if this is fair.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
Why it matters
This case affects how towns manage signs. It affects what people can say on signs. It affects how towns balance free speech and public order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 17-45
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
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 24, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 17-45
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.