最高法院拒绝审理密苏里万圣节性犯罪者禁糖果标牌案
美国最高法院10月19日拒绝受理密苏里州的上诉，维持下级法院裁决：该州要求登记在册的性犯罪者在万圣节张贴本住宅不提供糖果标牌的规定违反言论自由。提出挑战的 Thomas Sanderson 是密苏里州圣路易斯县（St. Louis County）Hazelwood 的居民。
密苏里州2008年通过法律，要求登记在册的性犯罪者在万圣节当晚避免与儿童接触、晚5时至10时30分留在室内、关掉室外照明，并强制在住所张贴写有 No candy or treats at this residence 的标牌。Sanderson 于2006年因性犯罪被定罪，多年来在家中布置大型万圣节装饰；2022年，他因违反该法被起诉，其后对标牌规定提起诉讼。
联邦法官与联邦第八巡回上诉法院此前均裁定，强制张贴标牌属于强制言论，无法通过严格审查。上诉法院指出，没有证据表明，在遵守其他万圣节限制的前提下，没有标牌会使儿童面临风险。
密苏里州在申诉中称，万圣节是儿童最可能敲开性犯罪者家门的夜晚，标牌能保护儿童；Sanderson 的律师则表示，增加这类红字式标牌并不能真正保护儿童，也不利于执行其他限制规定。最高法院未说明拒绝受理的理由，大法官 Samuel Alito 持异议，主张受理此案。（GSM 据《今日美国》报道）
Supreme Court Declines Missouri Halloween 'No Candy' Sign Case
The U.S. Supreme Court on October 19 declined to hear Missouri's appeal, leaving in place a lower court ruling that the state's requirement that registered sex offenders post 'no candy' signs on Halloween violates free speech rights. The law was challenged by Thomas Sanderson, a resident of Hazelwood in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Missouri's 2008 law requires registered sex offenders on Halloween night to avoid contact with children, remain inside their homes between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., leave outdoor lights off, and post a sign at their residence stating 'No candy or treats at this residence.' Sanderson, who was convicted of a sex offense in 2006 and for years created elaborate Halloween displays at his home, was prosecuted in 2022 for violating the rules and then challenged the sign requirement.
A federal judge and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit both ruled against the state, holding that the mandatory sign is compelled speech that cannot survive strict scrutiny. The appeals court said there is no evidence children would be at risk without the signs, as long as offenders comply with the state's other Halloween restrictions.
Missouri argued that Halloween is the night children are most likely to approach sex offenders' doors and that the signs protect children. Sanderson's lawyer countered that adding a scarlet-letter law does not meaningfully protect children or aid enforcement of the other restrictions. The Supreme Court gave no reason for declining the case; Justice Samuel Alito dissented, saying he would have taken it. (GSM, based on USA Today reporting)
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：密苏里州议会大厦航拍，杰斐逊城（资料图）。照片：KTrimble，Wikimedia Commons（CC0）。Aerial view of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City (file photo). Photo: KTrimble, Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
GSM Global · 本篇英文版 English edition of this story
