Supreme Court allows Mississippi pastor's lawsuit challenging city protest ordinance to proceed despite prior conviction
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Gabriel Olivier, a Mississippi pastor previously convicted of violating a Brandon city ordinance restricting protests near a public amphitheater, can continue his lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality. Justice Elena Kagan wrote the opinion finding that since Olivier seeks only prospective relief to prevent future enforcement rather than reversal of his past conviction, the case can proceed under the Heck v. Humphrey precedent. The decision reverses a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that had dismissed Olivier's First and Fourteenth Amendment challenge.
Lightly covered so far
Too few outlets to map a left-right split. Here is each take as it stands.
“Supreme Court revives Mississippi evangelist's challenge to protest ordinance”
“Supreme Court allows pastor to sue over protest law he violated”