Gilles v. Blanchard
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
477 F.3d 466 (2007)
Traveling evangelist Gilles (plaintiff), known for a confrontational preaching style, preached uninvited on Vincennes University's (defendant) central campus lawn, causing a disturbance that led the University to adopt a solicitation policy requiring prior approval and confining approved solicitors to a designated brick walkway; Gilles later returned, was directed to the walkway, but found it too noisy to attract an audience there. He sued alleging the policy violated his free-speech rights; the district court granted the University summary judgment, and Gilles appealed.
Whether, under the First Amendment, a public university may enact a solicitation policy limiting outside speakers to certain portions of campus, so long as the restriction is viewpoint neutral.