United States Fourth Circuit

A logo restriction provision in Virginia statute authorizing the issuance of special license plates to members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which prohibits plaintiffs from receiving special plates bearing the symbol of their organization, which includes the Confederate flag, violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/31/2001
• Decided 04/29/2002
• Published 04/29/2002

Judges

• Before WILLIAMS and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges, and HOWARD, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina, sitting by designation.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  William Henry Hurd, Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellant.  Arthur Patrick Strickland, Strickland & Harden, P.C., Roanoke, Virginia, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  Randolph A. Beales, Acting Attorney General, Jeffrey A. Spencer, Assistant Attorney General, Alison P. Landry, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellant.   Steven H. Aden, The Rutherford Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia, for Appellees.