Overview
(January 21, 2026, Washington, DC) – Steptoe has partnered with First Liberty Institute, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of the District of Columbia in a pro bono First Amendment lawsuit challenging advertising guidelines governing issue‑oriented and religious advertising in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) transit system.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of WallBuilder Presentations (WallBuilders), a nonprofit organization. WallBuilders sought to place advertisements on the exterior of WMATA Metrobuses addressing historical and educational topics related to the nation’s founding. WMATA rejected the advertisements under Guideline 9, which prohibits advertisements "intended to influence members of the public regarding an issue on which there are varying opinions."
In 2024, the US District Court for the District of Columbia ordered WMATA to reverse its rejection of the advertisements while the case is litigated, concluding that Guideline 9 was not a reasonable restriction on speech and did not provide the objective, workable standards required under the First Amendment.
On January 20, 2026, the plaintiffs filed a motion seeking permanent relief, asking the court to strike down the guideline. The case raises questions regarding the constitutional limits on speech restrictions in nonpublic forums operated by government entities, including how transit authorities may regulate viewpoint‑based advertising.
Steptoe partner Shannen Coffin leads the matter, along with Caitlin Ames, Andrew Sloniewsky, Riley John and pre-law fellow Michelle Law.
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, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
