Baltimore County must pay nearly $70,000 in fees after losing a lawsuit over a local ordinance that set time limits for political signs on residents? front lawns.
A federal judge who in July overturned the law restricting political yard signs to 45 days before a primary election has ordered the county to pay $70,000 in lawyer?s fees. The suit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and eight residents who said the ordinance stifled free speech and disadvantaged the campaigns of political newcomers.
“We made the same arguments that ultimately prevailed in the courts during the legislative process, and they went ahead and did it anyway,” said Deborah Jeon, a lawyer with the ACLU. “Ultimately it did cost the taxpayers money, and that?s unfortunate.”
U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Blake also released a written opinion on durational limits for political signs, which Jeon said could help halt the enforcement of similar restrictions in other municipalities, including Harford County.
The county argued the ordinance would remove “visual clutter” and distractions to motorists. But in her opinion, released Monday, Blake said the bill wasn?t narrowly tailored enough to accomplish those goals.
“Most significantly, the importance of official campaign signs and the message they provide both visually and as a direct form of speech has been recognized by many courts,” she wrote. “It is difficult to identify a sufficient alternative.”
Don Mohler, a spokesman for County Executive Jim Smith, deferred comment to Council Chairman Kevin Kamenetz, who sponsored the legislation. Kamenetz, a Pikesville Democrat, said the ACLU did not voice concern before the bill passed.
Kamenetz noted the civil rights group also filed suit over a county ordinance requiring medical facilities to be at least 750 feet from homes, another measure he sponsored. The bill came in response to neighbors of a drug treatment clinic concerned about crime associated with addiction.
