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Many states make money by letting a wide range of groups order specialty license plates for their members. The specialty plates tend to convey a message or an affiliation. May a state reject a proposed plate because it deals with “politically sensitive and emotionally charged issues?" More specifically, may a state forbid a “Choose Life” specialty plate, but allow a “Union Yes” plate and one that says “Support Police?” The Second Circuit just upheld such a policy, by a 2-to-1 vote. Is the decision consistent with the First Amendment?

  • Prof. Eugene Volokh, Gary T. Schwartz Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law