HOME > First Amendment Library > Case   Thomas v. Chicago Park District (2002)  [Findlaw] First Amendment claim denied Argument Date 12/03/2001 Decided 01/15/ 2002 Supreme Court Vote 9-0 Supreme Court Ruling First Amendment claim denied.   Issue Where someone is denied a park permit to engage in protected expression, does the First Amendment require both prompt access to judicial review and prompt resolution, including prompt appellate resolution? Individual and group advocating legalization of marijuana challenge the denial of a permit to hold a demonstration in a Chicago park. Specifically, petitioners’ argue that the city’s permit procedure did not provide for timely or prompt judicial review of denials.   Case Summary & Additional Resources Majority Opinion per Scalia Certiorari Granted 05/29/2001 Lower Court 7th Circuit Lower Court Ruling Affirmed Federal District Judge George M.Marovich’s denial of First Amendment claim Oral Arguments Oral Arguments - Transcript Lawyers For Petitioner Richard Lawrence Wilson For Respondent David Strauss & Steven A. Weiss, Schopf & Weiss Briefs Bonnie I. Robin-Vergeer Brief Leonard J. Koerner Robin S. Whitehead News Stories & Commentary Medill School of Journalism analysis Theodore Olson Panel - Lower Court Circuit Judge Frank Easterbrook Circuit Judge John Coffey Circuit Judge Richard Posner Tony Mauro Analysis High court appears unreceptive to challenge of Chicago park-permit rules Justices avoid appeals-process question in park-permit case Supreme Court agrees to examine city's park-permit rules Supreme Court to examine 5 First Amendment cases Opinion - Lower Court Thomas v. Chicago Park District (2001) Summary The Freedom Forum case summary  SEARCH MORE About this site About the First Amendment About the First Amendment Center How to contribute Video/RSS/podcasts First Amendment programs State of the First Amendment reports Religious liberty in public schools First Reports Supreme Court Columnists Experts First Amendment publications First Amendment Center history Glossary Freedom Sings™ Events First Amendment Schools Congressional Research Service reports Guest editorials FOI material The First Amendment Library Lesson plans freedomforum.org Newseum Contact us Privacy statement Related links