Adult Shop Restrictions Reach High Court
 

WASHINGTON - Attorneys for an adult bookstore asked the Supreme Court Wednesday to throw out a local zoning law, arguing that a provision of this governmental device for reining in such establishments is unconstitutional.



Attorney Michael Gross, representing the owners of Christal's, said the licensing requirements for adult businesses in Littleton, Colo., violate previous court rulings that guaranteed a prompt review from a judge.


Several justices expressed skepticism that the threat to the sex shop's First Amendment rights are so severe that a judge should be forced to leapfrog the case over other important cases.


As an example, Justice Stephen Breyer (news - web sites) asked why a sex shop's license case should be heard before an appeal from an inmate who has been arbitrarily imprisoned. Justice Antonin Scalia (news - web sites) took it further, questioning why adult businesses should be moved ahead of anyone seeking a license from the city.

more.....http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...cotus_sex_shop