Constitutional Law

Justices turn away challenge to Nev. ban on brothel ads

By By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON ? The Supreme Court has turned away an effort to invalidate Nevada laws banning newspaper advertisements identifying places where prostitution is legal.

The Court today refused to hear an appeal from two newspaper companies, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Shady Lady Ranch, a Nye County brothel.

Laws went into effect in Nevada in 1979 prohibiting brothel advertising in counties where prostitution is illegal. Prostitution is illegal in counties with populations of 400,000 or more ? which include Las Vegas and Reno ? and 10 Nevada counties authorize prostitution by local ordinance.

U.S. District Judge James Mahan said those advertising laws were overly broad and unconstitutional but his decision was overturned by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The case is Coyote Publishing Inc. v. Masto, 10-564.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on February 21, 2011 (boomark / email).