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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTexas acted legally when it refused to issue a license plate depicting the Confederate battle flag, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a decision that means dozens of states won’t have to open up their specialty-tag programs.
Justice Clarence Thomas, the only black justice, joined the court’s liberal wing in a five-justice majority. The court said the Constitution’s free speech clause doesn’t require Texas to grant a request from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, even though the state issues more than 400 other specialty plates.
The case had threatened to force states to offer plates to new, controversial causes or to abolish the money-making programs altogether.
Writing for the court, Justice Stephen Breyer said license plates qualify as government speech, giving officials broad power to pick and choose which messages to allow.
“As a general matter, when the government speaks it is entitled to promote a program, to espouse a policy, or to take a position,” Breyer wrote.
The confederate veterans group argued that states can’t favor one viewpoint over another in choosing which license-plate proposals to approve.
In dissent, Justice Samuel Alito said the court “establishes a precedent that threatens private speech that government finds displeasing.”
‘Fine Burgers’
Texas’s specialty plates include tags that say “Stop Child Abuse,” “God Bless Texas” and “Mighty Fine Burgers.” The state has a variety of avenues for issuing new plates, with some authorized by the state legislature, some proposed by private parties and some designed by a private company. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board approves each design before it is issued to the public.
Drivers who want a special plate pay an extra fee, with the money going in part to state agencies and in part to charitable and nonprofit groups.
The disputed plate design consisted of a battle flag surrounded by the words “Sons of Confederate Veterans 1896.” The Texas board said many members of the public found the design offensive.
The same issue has arisen in the context of the abortion debate. The high court has deferred action on a pending appeal that challenges North Carolina’s refusal to issue abortion- rights license plates while distributing “Choose Life” tags.
The case is Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, 14-144.
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