Legal Commentary

Tattoos as Speech

By Jonathan H. Adler

Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in Anderson v. City of Hermosa Beach, struck down a local ban on tattoo parlors on the grounds that tattooing is ?purely expressive activity fully protected by the First Amendment.? This opinion conflicts with several district court and state court decisions that have upheld local bans.

Judge Bybee?s opinion for the panel concludes:

In sum, we hold that the tattoo itself, the process of tattooing, and the business of tattooing are forms of pure expression fully protected by the First Amendment. We further hold that the City?s total ban on tattoo parlors in Hermosa Beach is not a reasonable ?time, place, or manner? restriction because it is substantially broader than necessary to achieve the City?s significant health and safety interests and because it entirely forecloses a unique and important method of expression. Moreover, no genuine issue of material fact exists with respect to the constitutionality of the regulation. Thus, we hold that Hermosa Beach Municipal Code § 17.06.070 is facially unconstitutional to the extent that it excludes tattoo parlors, and we reverse the district court?s order granting summary judgment in favor of the City and remand with instructions to grant Anderson?s motion for summary judgment and enjoin the City to include tattoo parlors in its zoning regulations.

Judge Noonan wrote a separate concurring opinion which reads, in full:

I concur in the holding of the court, and I agree with Judge Bybee?s robust defense of the values protected by the First Amendment.

(Hat tip: How Appealing)

Full post as published by The Volokh Conspiracy on September 10, 2010 (boomark / email).