Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Equal under the law

Federal court rules Missouri 'vanity' license plate law unconstitutional, and ends discrimination against pro-life slogan.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A federal court Wednesday ruled in favor of attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund defending “Choose Life” as a slogan on specialty license plates in Missouri. The court ordered the state to issue the “Choose Life” license plate, saying that the state statute used to reject the plate gives too much discretion to Department of Revenue committee officials who approve and reject applications.

“The statute does not provide the Joint Committee with specific standards or
guidelines upon which to base their decisions and no explanation is required for a denial of one’s application. As a result, [the statute] is unconstitutionally vague and overbroad,” wrote Senior U.S. District Judge Scott O. Wright.
The 9th Circuit! court ruled similarly in an Arizona case involving first amendment rights.

These are both good rulings because it's not about whether you agree with pro-life or pro-abortion; it's about citizens being treated equally under the law - and not subject to the whims and prejudices of bureaucrats.