Madsen v. Women's Health Center, Inc.
United States Supreme Court
512 U.S. 753 (1994)
After anti-abortion protesters including Madsen (defendant) violated an initial Florida injunction restricting picketing near Women's Health Center, Inc.'s (plaintiff's) clinic - obstructing street access, approaching vehicles, and using bullhorns before crowds sometimes reaching 400 people, with noise found to harm patients' health and emotional well-being - the trial court issued an expanded injunction with nine separate proscriptions on protest activity. The protesters challenged the injunction, the state supreme court upheld it, and they petitioned for Supreme Court review.
Whether provisions of an injunction imposing limitations upon the exercise of free speech are unconstitutional when they are more restrictive than necessary to promote a substantial government interest.