Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 359

529US1

Unit: $U42

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ERIE v. PAP’S A. M.

Opinion of the Court

Respondent Pap’s, a Pennsylvania corporation, operated an
establishment in Erie known as “Kandyland” that featured
totally nude erotic dancing performed by women. To com-
ply with the ordinance, these dancers must wear, at a min-
imum, “pasties” and a “G-string.” On October 14, 1994,
two days after the ordinance went into effect, Pap’s ﬁled a
complaint against the city of Erie, the mayor of the city, and
members of the city council, seeking declaratory relief and
a permanent injunction against the enforcement of the
ordinance.

The Court of Common Pleas of Erie County granted the
permanent injunction and struck down the ordinance as
unconstitutional. Civ. No. 60059–1994 (Jan. 18, 1995), Pet.
for Cert. 40a. On cross appeals, the Commonwealth Court
reversed the trial court’s order. 674 A. 2d 338 (1996).

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted review and re-
versed, concluding that the public nudity provisions of the
ordinance violated respondent’s rights to freedom of expres-
sion as protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
553 Pa. 348, 719 A. 2d 273 (1998). The Pennsylvania court
ﬁrst inquired whether nude dancing constitutes expressive
conduct that is within the protection of the First Amend-
ment. The court noted that the act of being nude, in and of

perineum anal region or pubic hair region; or the exposure of any device
worn as a cover over the nipples and/or areola of the female breast, which
device simulates and gives the realistic appearance of nipples and/or
areola.

“3. “Public Place” includes all outdoor places owned by or open to the
general public, and all buildings and enclosed places owned by or open to
the general public, including such places of entertainment, taverns, res-
taurants, clubs, theaters, dance halls, banquet halls, party rooms or halls
limited to speciﬁc members, restricted to adults or to patrons invited to
attend, whether or not an admission charge is levied.

“4. The prohibition set forth in subsection 1(c) shall not apply to:
“a. Any child under ten (10) years of age; or
“b. Any individual exposing a breast in the process of breastfeeding an

infant under two (2) years of age.”