Case Title: State v. McHugh

Citation: 161 Vt. 574, 635 A.2d 1200

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 1993-11-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
ENTRY_ORDER.91-280; 161 Vt. 574; 635 A.2d 1200

[Filed 09-Nov-1993]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                       SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 91-280

                             OCTOBER TERM, 1993


 State of Vermont                  }          APPEALED FROM:
                                   }
                                   }
      v.                           }          District Court of Vermont,
                                   }          Unit No. 2, Chittenden Circuit
                                   }
 Paul M. McHugh                    }
                                   }          DOCKET NO. 1558-4-90CnCr


              In the above entitled cause the Clerk will enter:

      The State charged that defendant Paul McHugh "corruptly endeavored to
 obstruct . . . justice" by picketing the residence of Judge Matthew Katz in
 an attempt to influence his judicial decisions in pending criminal proceed-
 ings involving defendant and others.  13 V.S.A. { 3015.(FN1)  The trial court
 granted defendant's motion to dismiss, ruling that the statute as applied
 infringed the First Amendment right to free speech.  We affirm.

      On April 5, 1990, defendant and several members of Operation Rescue
 were on the public sidewalk at the residence of Judge Katz protesting his
 failure to release other members of the group on bail.  Defendant carried
 handbills urging "people of God" to maintain "prayer vigils" at the site
 until Judge Katz should "repent . . . or immediately remove himself from all
 further rescue trial proceedings."  The demonstration was confined to the
 sidewalk in front of the residence.  There was no disorderly conduct, no
 obscenity, and no trespass.

      As a general matter, peaceful picketing and leafletting are protected
 speech activities.  United States v. Grace,