ACLU-EM's St. Ann Political Sign lawsuit Ends with Consent Judgment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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ST. LOUIS, Sept. 5 – Yesterday, United States District Eastern District of Missouri Judge John A. Ross approved a consent judgment in a lawsuit against the city of St. Ann regarding a restriction of Eileen Grant McGeoghegan’s right to free speech. The city of St. Ann is responsible for paying her the $1 in damages she requested and is enjoined from enforcing its ordinance restricting political signs. She was represented by Anthony Rothert and Grant Doty, attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri.

“This is the second political yard sign case this year that has ended with a consent judgment,” says Brenda L. Jones, executive director of the ACLU-EM. “Both cases serve as a reminder to municipalities and citizens, this election year, that we have the right to display political signs.”

“Municipalities often have codes that restrict the size, or length of time that a political sign can be displayed,” said Rothert, legal director for the ACLU-EM. “However, local governments can’t treat political signs less favorably than other types of yard signs.”

The ACLU-EM is a non-partisan, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of civil liberties in eastern Missouri. Located in St. Louis, the ACLU-EM is an affiliate of the national ACLU.