Overview
(December 14, 2023, Washington, DC) – Steptoe has partnered with First Liberty Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a First Amendment lawsuit challenging advertising guidelines governing bus and rail advertising in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of our client, WallBuilder Presentations (WallBuilders), a non-profit organization dedicated to "presenting America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built." Plaintiff WallBuilders sought to advertise on the side of WMATA Metrobuses to promote its religious and educational mission, which is to inform the public about the role that the Founders’ religious faith played in the creation of the nation and the drafting of the Constitution. WMATA rejected the ads under an advertising guideline prohibiting advertising "intended to influence members of the public regarding an issue on which there are varying public opinions." WallBuilders contends that the guidelines are unreasonable and viewpoint discriminatory in violation of the First Amendment.
The Washington Times published a piece discussing the matter, "Christian group, ACLU sue Metro over rejected bus ads featuring a praying George Washington."
Steptoe partner Shannen Coffin and associate Caitlin Daday represent WallBuilders, with support from paralegal Riley John.
Visit the ACLU website for further information and to view the lawsuit.
Visit The Washington Times to view the full article.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
