FW/PBS, Inc. v. Dallas

by Sandra Day O'Connor

United States Supreme Court

493 U.S. 215

FW/PBS, Inc.  v.  Dallas

No. Nos 87-2012, 87-2051 and 88-49  Argued: Oct. 4, 1989. --- Decided: Jan 9, 1990

Syllabus

Respondent city of Dallas adopted a comprehensive ordinance regulating "sexually oriented businesses," which are defined to include "adult" arcades, bookstores, video stores, cabarets, motels, and theaters, as well as escort agencies, nude model studios, and sexual encounter centers. Among other things, the ordinance requires that such businesses be licensed and includes civil disability provisions prohibiting certain individuals from obtaining licenses. Three groups of individuals and businesses involved in the adult entertainment industry filed separate suits challenging the ordinance on numerous grounds and seeking injunctive and declaratory relief. The District Court upheld the bulk of the ordinance but struck down several subsections, and the city subsequently amended the ordinance in conformity with the court's judgment. The Court of Appeals affirmed, holding, inter alia, that the ordinance's licensing scheme did not violate the First Amendment despite its failure to provide the procedural safeguards set forth in Freedman v. Maryland, 380 U.S. 51, 85 S.Ct. 734, 13 L.Ed.2d 649 (1965), and that its civil disability provisions and its provision requiring licensing for "adult motel owners" renting rooms for fewer than 10 hours were constitutional.

Held: The judgment is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and vacated in part, and the cases are remanded.

837 F.2d 1298, (CA 5 1988), affirmed in part, reversed in part, vacated in part, and remanded.

Justice O'CONNOR delivered the opinion of the Court with respect to Parts III and IV, concluding that:

Notes