Supreme Court Grants Review In Church's Challenge To Sign Ordinance

The U.S. Supreme Court today granted certiorari in Reed v. Gilbert, AZ, (Docket No. 13-502, cert. granted 7/1/2014.) (Order List.) In the case, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, upheld an Arizona town's sign ordinance that limits the size, number and time frame in which non-profit groups can display temporary directional signs.  The limits on temporary event signs are stricter than limits placed on various other types of signs, having the effect of favoring political and ideological signs over religious ones.  The ordinance was challenged by a church that placed 17 signs in the area around its place of worship announcing the time and location of its services. (See prior posting.) Here is the petition for certiorari. An ADF press release has more background.