Opinion ID: 161267
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Characterization of Forum

Text: 46 The parties disagree as to whether the relevant forum is a traditional or a designated public forum. See Aplt. Br. at 10 & n.3 (traditional); Aplee. Br. at 12-14 (designated). We find it unnecessary to resolve this dispute. As explained, the only distinction between the two types of public fora is that the government is not required to indefinitely retain the open character of a designated public forum. Perry, 460 U.S. at 46; accord Hawkins, 170 F.3d at 1287; Summum, 130 F.3d at 914. Since neither the plaintiffs nor the defendants claim that the unattended display ban has effectively closed the forum, the distinction between traditional and designated public fora has no practical significance in this case. E.g., Aplt. App. at 114 ([T]he only difference between [a designated] and a traditional public forum . . . is that [a designated forum] can be canceled as a public forum if the City so chooses, but it hasn't so chosen, so it's a public forum.) (statement by Plaintiffs' counsel at hearing). As long as a public forum remains open, the government is subject to the same constitutional standards regardless of whether the forum is designated or traditional; the critical inquiry is content-neutrality.