Summary
A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, censorship-zone law, similar to a Massachusetts law the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in 2014, prohibits speech and advocacy—including prayer—in painted zones outside medical facility entrances. The city chose to paint and enforce such censorship zones on the public sidewalk outside only two facilities in the entire metropolitan area—Pittsburgh’s two abortion facilities—targeting face-to-face conversations by pro-life sidewalk counselors.
Watch
Press Releases
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US Supreme Court declines to take case concerning Pittsburgh's censorship zone law -
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Broad support for US Supreme Court to reject Pittsburgh's censorship zones
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Sidewalk counselors ask US Supreme Court to review Pittsburgh censorship-zone law
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Appeals court rules Pittsburgh censorship zones can't exclude pro-life sidewalk counselors
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Challenge to Pittsburgh censorship zones heads to appeals court again -
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3rd Circuit reinstates lawsuit against Pittsburgh censorship zones
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ADF to 3rd Circuit: Pittsburgh censorship zones violate free speech
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ADF files suit against Pittsburgh censorship zones
Commentary
Case Documents
Court
Title
Date
U.S. Supreme Court
4/29/2020
Additional Resources
Case Profiles
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John Bursch
Senior Counsel, Vice President of Appellate Advocacy
John Bursch is senior counsel and vice president of appellate advocacy with Alliance Defending Freedom.
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Kevin Theriot
Senior Counsel
Kevin Theriot serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is a key member of the Center for Life Team working to defend pro-life speech and protect medical rights of conscience.