US Supreme Court backs St.Louis property owner’s right to free speech

A two-story tall mural in downtown St. Louis protesting the use of eminent domain has the support of the United States Supreme Court. The court has refused to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that held part of the city’s downtown sign ordinance is unconstitutional. The mural was put up by property owner Jim Roos, who has lost two-dozen buildings in eminent domain cases. City officials ordered him to take it down as a violation of the city sign ordinance. The court says it is protected speech. A federal district judge will now consider whether the rest of the St. Louis sign ordinance is unconstitutional, too.