The Supreme Court handed anti-abortion activists a partial victory Thursday in McCullen v. Coakley when it found that a Massachusetts law establishing a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics violated the First Amendment.

Writing for a unanimous Court, Chief Justice John Roberts said the restrictions “burden substantially more speech than necessary to achieve the Commonwealth’s asserted interests.” The justices made clear that public sidewalks, and other public places like town squares and parks, are historic venues of speech and enjoy the highest level of First Amendment protection.