United States Sixth Circuit

A government-crafted message disseminated by private volunteers does not create a "forum" for speech that must be viewpoint neutral, at least with respect to a state-produced specialty license plate with a "Choose Life" logotype. A judgment invalidating a law authorizing issuance of a specialty license plate with a "Choose Life" logotype on First Amendment grounds is reversed.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/17/2006
• Published 03/17/2006

Judges

• Before:  MARTIN, NELSON, and ROGERS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Sixth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  James Bopp, Jr., Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom, Terre Haute, Indiana, for Appellant.  Julie E. Sternberg, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, New York, New York, Jimmy G. Creecy, Office of the Attorney General, Nashville, Tennessee, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  James Bopp, Jr., Thomas J. Marzen, Anita Y. Woudenberg, Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom, Terre Haute, Indiana, for Appellant.  Julie E. Sternberg, Carrie Y. Flaxman, Caroline M. Corbin, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, New York, New York, Jimmy G. Creecy, Office of the Attorney General, Nashville, Tennessee, Melody L. Fowler-Green, Aclu Foundation of Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, Susan L. Kay, Vanderbilt School of Law, Nashville, Tennessee, Roger K. Evans, Donna Lee, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York, for Appellees.  Mathew D. Staver, Liberty Counsel, Maitland, Florida, Mary E. McAlister, Liberty Counsel, Lynchburg, Virginia, for Amicus Curiae.