Settlement Reached In New Haven Street Preacher Case

A consent judgment (full text) was entered Monday in Connecticut federal district court in Morrell v. City of New Haven, (D CT, Aug. 17, 2009). Under terms of the order, New Haven, Connecticut police agree not to apply Connecticut's disorderly conduct statute (Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 53a-182) to preaching on public sidewalks by Jesse Morrell, unless Morrell's "predominant intent" is to annoy, alarm or cause unreasonable noise. The city also agreed to pay $25,000 to cover damages, attorneys fees and litigation costs. A release by Alliance Defense Fund says that in 2004 New Haven police stopped Morrell from preaching at four different locations.