An Arizona anti-abortion group's right of free speech was violated when the state refused to issue specialty license plates with the message "Choose Life," a federal appeals court ruled Monday.Reversing a judge's decision, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said Arizona's License Plate Commission had approved less-controversial plates for other nonprofit organizations, such as associations of police and firefighters and the Wildlife Conservation Council, before turning down the Arizona Life Coalition.
The commission "clearly denied the application based on the nature of the message," Judge Richard Tallman said in the 3-0 ruling. He rejected the commission's argument that it was entitled to control the content of state-issued license plates and said Arizona was attempting to restrict free expression.
Opponents of abortion have been trying for years to get states to let them use license plates as mobile billboards for the "Choose Life" motto. Judges' reaction has been mixed.
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