U.S. Judge Rules Lakeland City Illegally Fined Woman Over Profane Political Yard Sign

Ruling Marks a Victory for First Amendment Rights

In a significant ruling this week, a Federal judge in Tennessee declared it unconstitutional for a city to impose a fine on a woman who exhibited a political sign in her yard that employed coarse language to express her disdain for both President Biden and ex-President Donald J. Trump. The citizen in question, Julie Pereira, a 40-year-old resident of Lakeland, Tenn. was penalized with hundreds of dollars by the city of Lakeland for displaying a sign that stated “Fuck Em’ Both 2024”.

A Stand Against Suppression of Free Speech

Earlier this year, Lakeland had reasoned that the political sign was in violation of its municipal code due to its obscene nature. However, in a counter claim in June, Ms. Pereira contested Lakeland’s fine in a federal court, asserting her First Amendment right to display the sign in her yard.

Judge Mark S. Norris, of the U.S. District Court in Memphis, intervened in the matter through an order issued on Tuesday. In his judgement, he concluded that Ms. Pereira’s yard sign was not obscene. Furthermore, he asserted that it was unconstitutional for Lakeland City to penalize Ms. Pereira for the sign.

Reparation and a Cease Order for the City

Judge Norris ordered Lakeland City to reimburse Ms. Pereira for nearly $700 in fines and to pay up an additional $1 in damages for infringing her First Amendment rights. Furthermore, the judge ruled in favor of Ms. Pereira, awarding her legal fees amounting up to $31,000.

Beyond dealing with repercussions for its imposition of fines, Lakeland City has also been instructed to desist from taking any further actions against Ms. Pereira. This effectively allows her to continue expressing her political viewpoints freely through signs or other means.

First Amendments Rights Upheld

This case adds to the body of legal precedents guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression in the United States. It underscores the importance of the First Amendment which safeguards individual’s rights to express their political views, even when such expressions may employ strong language or diverge from mainstream opinion.

Author: STAFF HERE MEMPHIS WRITER

The MEMPHIS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMemphis.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Memphis, Shelby County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Beale Street Music Festival, Elvis Week, and Memphis in May International Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and music that power the local economy such as FedEx, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and AutoZone. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREKnoxville.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.