Court Rejects Free Exercise Challenge To Abortion Picketing Law

In Brown v. City of Pittsburgh, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13463 (WD PA, Feb. 22, 2008), a Pennsylvania federal district court refused to grant a preliminary injunction against enforcing Pittsburgh's ordinance limiting picketing, demonstations and handbilling near abortion clinics. Among the arguments rejected by the court was the claim that the ordinance infringes the free exercise rights and the rights under the Pennsylvania Religious Freedom Act of plaintiff who wishes to engage in sidewalk counseling and leafleting near three reproductive health clinics.