HOME > First Amendment Library > Case   Young v. American Mini Theatres (doc. #: 75-312) (1976)  [Findlaw] Secondary Link Young v. American Mini Theatres  [Legal Information Institute] Argument Date 03/24/1976 Decided 05/24/1976 Supreme Court Vote 5-4 Note In Reno v. ACLU (1997) Justice Stevens, speaking for the Court, took a far more speech-protective view of indecent expression. Supreme Court Ruling First Amendment claim denied.   Issue Whether a zoning ordinance classification -- based on a difference between motion picture theaters which exhibit sexually explicit "adult" movies and those which do not -- is unconstitutional because it is based on the content of communication protected by the First Amendment.   Case Summary & Additional Resources Majority Opinion Stevens, J. (plurality) (Part III joined by Burger, C.J., Rehnquist, J., and & White, J.) Concurring Opinion Powell, J. Dissenting Opinion Stewartt, J. (joined by Brennan, J., Marshall, J., & Blackmun, J.), & Blackmun, J. (joined by Brennan, J., Stewart, J. & Marshall, J.) Lower Court 6th Circuit Lower Court Ruling First Amendment claim sustained Lawyers For Petitioner Maureen Pulte Reilly For Respondent John H. Weston Opinion - Lower Court American Mini Theatres, Inc. v. Gribbs, 518 F.2d 1014 (6th Cir., 1975) (2-1) [LexisNexis] Other Chemerinsky, Erwin, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: PRINCIPLES & POLICES (2nd ed., 2002), sect. 11.3.4.4, pp. 989-995 Dickson, Del, THE SUPREME COURT IN CONFERENCE (1940-1985): THE PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS BEHIND NEARLY 300 SUPREME COURT DECISIONS (2001), pp. 365-366 Goldman, "A Doctrine of Worthier Speech: Young v. American Mini Theatres," 21 St. Louis Law Journal 281 (1977) Note, "Zoning--First Amendment--Equal Protection--Zoning Ordinance Regulating ‘Adult’ Theatres and Bookstores Violates Equal Protection . . . .," 54 Texas Law Review 422 (1976) Note, 28 Case Western Reserve Law Review 456 (1978) Note, 42 Missouri Law Review 461 (1977) Shiffrin, Steven, THE FIRST AMENDMENT, DEMOCRACY, AND ROMANCE (1990) pp. 53-55 Sickels, Robert Judd, JOHN PAUL STEVENS & THE CONSTITUTION (1988), pp. 54-55 Tribe, Laurence, AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (2nd ed., 1988), sect. 12-18, pp. 934-935  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