A United States District Court Judge for the District of Columbia recently declared unconstitutional a law which purported to ban demonstrations on the grounds of the United States Supreme Court.  In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell found the 64-year old law "unreasonable, substantially overbroad, and irreconcilable with the First Amendment."

The case arose after a Maryland resident stood on the grounds of the Supreme Court, reportedly holding a sign critical of the U.S. government's treatment of African American and Hispanic peoples but otherwise not engaged in any disruptive or disorderly behavior.

Addressing concerns that permitting demonstrations will unduly disrupt the Court's business or infringe upon the solemnity of the Court, Judge Howell found that sufficient security measures were in place nearer to the Court's entrances to guard against undue disruptions.

For more information, click here. Photo credit:  liveactionnews.org.