Court Strikes Down Ban on Live Sex Shows

The state Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a law against live sex shows and a local ordinance that says nude dancers must stay at least 4 feet away from patrons.

Both restrictions violate the Oregon Constitution's guarantee of free expression, the court said in Salem in two 5-1 decisions.

Justice Michael Gillette, writing for the majority, said it "appears to us to be beyond reasonable dispute that the protection extends to the kinds of expression that a majority of citizens in many communities would dislike" -- including nude dancing.