Talking Points - Cox v. New Hampshire

Question: Are certain restrictions placed on speech and assembly unconstitutional under the First Amendment?

1. Are time, place and manner restrictions placed on public assemblies unconstitutional?

Cox

Affirmative. Yes.

The First Amendment ensures freedom of speech and assembly. The plain text of the Amendment does not permit regulations on the time, place, and manner of assemblies. The right to assembly is a very important means for conveying ideas that are protected by the First Amendment. Even "neutral" regulations, such as those present here, that impinge upon the right of individuals to assemble infringe upon the First Amendment. Moreover, there is a risk that as one has to go through more and more "procedures" to be able to assemble, the right to assembly (and, consequently, to convey one's ideas) will be further intruded upon.

New Hampshire

Negative. No.

The State of New Hampshire does not intend to prohibit Cox or other members of the Jehovah's Witness religion from holding a parade and expressing their views. Each New Hampshire town, however, is responsible for ensuring safety of public thoroughfares and the safety of these types of events. For this reason, the state is permitted to enact reasonable regulations that effect that the time, place, and manner in which parades and other such assemblies can occur. These regulations are completely content-neutral and in no way impose on the views that are expressed by Cox or members of his religion.

2. Are licensing fees for public assemblies arbitrary, prohibitive, and unconstitutional?

Cox

Affirmative. Yes.

The First Amendment protects the right of individuals to assemble and to convey their ideas. The Amendment does not permit the charging of fees to assemble. Although the State argues that the fees are "reasonable" and are simply meant to ensure a police presence for ensuring safety, these actions are not constitutionally permissible. The State need not ensure a police presence at these events—at least when there is not any indication that violence may arise. The nature of this event is a simple parade through town. The organizers are capable of planning it themselves. Moreover, the "sliding-scale" licensing fees may give too much discretion to town authorities. For instance, who is to determine what constitutes a "reasonable fee"? Thus, town officials may end up discriminating against unpopular groups by arbitrarily making those groups' fees higher than groups whose ideas are popular.

New Hampshire

Negative. No.

The fee in this case is not meant to be prohibitive. It varies depending on the size of the assembly and the amount of police presence that is necessary to effectively police the crowd. The State in no way argues that Cox or other members of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion should be prohibited from holding a parade. Fairness, however, demands that they should be made to pay their fair share of the cost of hosting this event. So long as the fee is not unreasonable and the fees are applied in a neutral manner, there should not be any constitutional problems.