Board of Airport Commissioners v. Jews for Jesus, Inc. Case Brief Summary | Law Case Explained

Board of Airport Commissioners v. Jews for Jesus, Inc. | 482 U.S. 569 (1987)

A trip to the airport often involves long lines and tiresome procedures. What wouldn’t passengers give to make the whole process run more smoothly? Would it help if there were rules so people didn’t slow things down by giving out religious literature or asking for donations? In Board of Airport Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles versus Jews for Jesus, the United States Supreme Court found that an airport ban on speech wouldn’t fly under the Constitution even if it could’ve improved the airport experience.

The Board of Airport Commissioners of the City of Los Angeles adopted a resolution that stated that all First Amendment activities by any individual or entity were banned in the airport’s Central Terminal Area. Violators were subject to legal action. An airport police officer stopped Alan Snyder, a minister of the Gospel for Jews for Jesus, for distributing free religious literature in the terminal. The officer showed Snyder the resolution and asked him to leave the terminal or face legal action. Snyder left.

Jews for Jesus sued the Board, arguing that the resolution violated Jews for Jesus’ First Amendment rights under the Constitution. The court ruled in favor of Jews for Jesus, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed. The Board appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which granted cert.

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