Monday, May 5, 2008

In Defense of Free Speech


The right of free speech is one of a handful of our most cherished and important rights. And in three opinions, Justice Fairhurst showed a preference for government power to control or punish citizens for exercising their right to free speech. This is one of several areas where our basic values and our approaches to the proper role of government differ.

The three cases involved political speech, protest speech and commercial speech, and in all three cases the incumbent opposed the court’s decisions, which came down on the side of liberty. The consistency of the incumbent’s approach reveals her political philosophy.

In Rickert v. Public Disclosure Commission,
[1] the issue was whether the authority of the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) to decide the truth of campaign statements violated the U.S. and State Constitutional protections for political speech. In a race for a legislative seat the challenger said things about the incumbent’s record that were not true, and the incumbent complained to the PDC. The PDC is appointed by the governor, and they regulate campaign finances, a worthy goal. But they also had the authority to investigate the charge that one politician had lied, decide whether the charge was true, and fine the offender. But the offender, who claimed she did not lie at all, argued that she had rights to free speech over which the governor’s appointed commission had no Constitutional authority, and the Supreme Court agreed.

The majority’s opinion came down on the side of liberty. The people can decide which politician is telling the truth; some commission of folks appointed by the governor should not have the power to decide that for us. It’s a simple proposition, and one which the dissent could not accept. Justice Fairhurst joined the dissent, preferring that appointed commissions decide for all citizens which politician is telling the truth.

In Resident Action Council v. Seattle Housing Authority,
[2] the issue was whether the Seattle Housing Authority had the right to prevent tenants from posting signs on their front doors. The signs included political messages, artwork and sometimes offensive symbols. These are low income housing apartments owned and operated by a Seattle Municipal agency. The tenants sued to enjoin enforcement of the ban and it was struck down as a violation of the tenants’ rights to free speech. The majority again came down on the side of liberty – a person’s home is their castle and they can put whatever slogan they want on their front door.

The dissent, including Justice Fairhurst, would have ruled that the government landlord can censor their tenant’s doors.

Finally, in Kitsap County v. Mattress Outlet,[3] the issue was whether a county had the right to impose its commercial sign ordinance on a retail business that hired people to stand on street corners and waive at passersby while wearing colorful oversized raincoats that displayed the business’s name. The majority ruled for liberty and declared that the county failed to show why a permit for such a sign was required, comparing the raincoat signs to signs advertising yard sales.

The dissent, including Justice Fairhurst, would have ruled that the retailer must obtain the government’s permission before the raincoats can come out.

In each of these cases, Jutice Fairhurstwould have ruled for the government and against a citizen’s liberty rights to free speech. I disagree with that approach.

To preserve liberty vote Bond for Justice.


[1] 161 Wn.2d 843 (2007)
[2] 162 Wn.2d 773 (2008)
[3] 153 Wn.2d 506 (2005)

3 comments:

Ellis Reyes said...

In your comments regarding Resident Action Council v. Seattle Housing Authority you stated that you agreed with the majority that the government landlord did not have the right to restrict the materials that the tenants posted in their windows or on their doors. Would this opinion extend to private landlords as well?

Thank you for your response.

Advocatus Diaboli

Anonymous said...

Advocatus,

The issue in that case addressed government suppression of free speech on government property. A private land owner should have the right to deal with his or her property as they see fit. So the opinion of the court would not apply.

Fairness said...

Re: Resident Action Council v. Seattle Housing Authority
There are discrepancies in Mssr. Bond's logic of, "The majority again came down on the side of liberty – a person’s home is their castle and they can put whatever slogan they want on their front door." First, where does the liberty of "offensive symbols"'s apartment end and "no offensive symbols"'s apartment begin? If the former posts prices for cocaine or a brothel on their front door and characterizes it as a slogan, is this their right? As neighbor walking by with my 10 year old son, my first concern would NOT be for my neighbor's freedom of speech. If they were to paint a graphic of, as Mssr. Bond puts it, "the powerful middle finger", why do neighbors renting their own "castles" give up their right to live sans obscenity?

However, the most egregious example of illogic is when Mssr. Bond responds to Advocatus that, "a private land owner should have the right to deal with his or her property as they see fit", thus countering any rational attempt to defend free speech. So, if the land owner is a government entity, renters have free speech but if renting privately they don't?

Free speech is awarded to the individual; it shouldn't be dependent upon the rental owner. In no way does Mssr. Bond's illogic give ANY power to the poor, as he claims, as the poor live in both private and public housing.

In addition, if I own a car and I want to paint it purple and yellow, I have that right. If I rent the car, my freedom is limited: no paint job. This holds true for a $300k lambo or a $100 lemon. It's not an issue or giving/depriving power to the poor/wealthy; it's a simple right of ownership. I've been poor and I know the difference.

Thank you.