Court Opinion

ID: 9852608
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:33:35.851822+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:30.643070
License: Public Domain

Fletcher, Justice,
dissenting.
This court has determined that challenges to statutes under the freedom of speech clause of the Georgia Constitution, Art. I, Sec. I, Par. V, may be determined by applying analogous First Amendment standards. Paramount Pictures Corp. v. Busbee, 250 Ga. 252, 255, n. 5 (297 SE2d 250) (1982); Harris v. Entertainment Systems, 259 Ga. 701, 702 (386 SE2d 140) (1989).
The majority in the present case concludes that this case is controlled by Harris, supra. However, in 1989, when Harris was decided, this court did not have the benefit of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Barnes v. Glen Theatre, _ U. S. _ (111 SC 2456, 115 LE2d 504) (1991). Because I am of the opinion that the City of Carrollton’s ordinance is drawn narrowly enough to fit within the guidelines set forth in Barnes and that, unlike the statute at issue in Harris, Carrollton’s ordinance does not violate the third prong of the test enunciated by this court in Paramount Pictures, 250 Ga. 256,2 I respectfully dissent.3

 While the main body of the ordinance in question was adopted in 1985, the provision which the majority finds offensive was added by amendment in 1992 and applies only to establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages by the drink for consumption on the premises. The ordinance limits such licenses to “bona fide eating establishments] ” which are well defined by the ordinance.

 I am also compelled to agree with the dissent of Justice Weltner in Harris.