The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear a federal appeals court decision. It resulted in Dallas beginning to implement an ordinance to make all strip clubs and other sexually-related businesses shut down between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
On Monday, the Supreme Court denied a petition to look over a case that was filed in February. This was done by the Association of Club Executives of Dallas. It includes sexually orientated businesses, four strip clubs, and an adult novelty store. The Supreme Court did not provide an opinion.
In January 2022, the ordinance was approved by the Dallas City council because of increases in violence mainly at or close to strip clubs.
Before now, the city hadn’t placed any operation restrictions. Businesses that are found to be in violation could lose their sexually oriented business license. They could also be forced to pay a $4,000 fine or spend up to a year in jail because of criminal charges.
Once the ordinance had been approved, the association and the businesses filed a lawsuit against the city. They cited that it was unconstitutional. In May 2022, a federal judge concurred with the association and the businesses. They then blocked the city from enforcing the rules. Then, in October 2023, the decision was overturned by an appeals court. The city then began to enorce the curfew in November of last year.
In February, the plaintiffs petitioned the Supreme Court. They had asked for a review of whether the city was using quality police data for their reasoning to approve the ordinance should be valid. They also questioned if making an ordinance that the businesses be closed violated free speech. The city decided not to respond to the petition.
In January, three Dallas strip clubs filed a lawsuit. They requested that a federal judge stop them from being closed down at 2:00 a.m. The businesses stated that they were being unlawfully threatened with sanctions by authorities. They had remainined open past 2:00 a.m. However, there was no sex work. They had been primarily open as a restaurant, they noted.
In February, a federal judge denied the strips clubs’ and businesses’ request.
