United States v. Grace
United States Supreme Court
461 U.S. 171 (1983)
Relevant factsFree
A federal statute, 40 U.S.C. § 13k, banned carrying flags, banners, signs, or leaflets designed to bring public attention to any "party, organization, or movement" onto Supreme Court grounds or into the building, effectively prohibiting parades, picketing, or lobbying there. The statute was challenged on First Amendment grounds, and the Court specifically considered whether the ban extended to the public sidewalks bordering the Court.
IssueFree
Whether Congress may prohibit the display of flags, banners, leaflets, and other communicative devices used for lobbying on the public sidewalk surrounding the Supreme Court.