A federal judge in Tennessee ruled this week that it was unconstitutional for a city to fine a woman who had displayed a sign in her yard that used profane language to express disapproval of both President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump.
The woman, Julie Pereira, 40, of Lakeland, Tenn., who posted the sign, which said “Fuck Em’ Both 2024,” in January, was fined hundreds of dollars by the city. It told her that the political sign violated its municipal code because it was obscene.
In June, Ms. Pereira sued Lakeland in federal court, arguing that she had a First Amendment right to post the sign in her yard.
Judge Mark S. Norris of U.S. District Court in Memphis, said in an order issued on Tuesday that Ms. Pereira’s yard sign was not obscene, and that it was unconstitutional for the city of Lakeland to take action against Ms. Pereira over the sign.
Judge Norris ordered the city to reimburse her for nearly $700 in fines and pay Ms. Pereira damages of $1 for violating her First Amendment rights, according to the order. Ms. Pereira was also awarded legal fees of $31,000. The judge also barred the city from taking any additional action against her.
Ms. Pereira said in an interview on Wednesday that she was “happy” with the outcome, adding that it was “ unfortunate that it had to go this far.”
“I’m thrilled,” she said. “I think this is important as far as the Constitution goes and, as far as American citizens being able to have their right to free speech protected.”
Daniel A. Horwitz, a lawyer for Ms. Pereira, said in an email that it “is a sacred American right” to disapprove of politicians using the same expletive on Ms. Pereira’s sign.
“We are proud to have protected Mrs. Pereira’s right to express her political views and to have achieved a successful outcome in this important First Amendment case,” Mr. Horwitz said.
A lawyer for the city of Lakeland and city officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
After posting the sign in her yard, Ms. Pereira received a letter in January from a city code enforcement officer who told her that she needed to “remove the sign displaying the cuss word or cover the word to where it cannot be viewed from the road and neighboring parties.” Ms. Pereira was given 24 hours to do or face further action from the city, the letter said.
Initially, Ms. Pereira used blue tape to cover up the letter “U” on the sign to comply with city code, according to court records. But after six days, Ms. Pereira changed her mind and removed the tape.
At a hearing in the Municipal Court of Lakeland in February, Ms. Pereira told a judge that she expected the city would push back after she removed the tape from the sign, but that she felt emboldened to stand up for her rights, according to a transcript of the hearing. Ms. Pereira was fined $50 per day for six days after she removed the tape from the sign, according to court records.
Ms. Pereira said that she had served in the U.S. Navy for six years, followed by two years in the reserves.
“We certainly did not join and agree to uphold everything” she said, “just for me to come back and have my own country, my own city, my own state, violate my rights.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the sign was on display in Ms. Pereira’s yard, where, she said, she plans to keep it.
“It is still in my yard,” she said. “The election is not over until November.”
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