Norton v. Ensor

269 F. Supp. 533, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8784
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedJune 6, 1967
DocketCiv. No. 18390
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 269 F. Supp. 533 (Norton v. Ensor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Norton v. Ensor, 269 F. Supp. 533, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8784 (D. Md. 1967).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiffs seek an injunction restraining defendant, the Chief of Police of Baltimore County, “from restricting the Plaintiffs and each of them from meeting or holding a public meeting, gathering, rallies or debate in any public park or other meeting place where members of the public customarily meet for conversation, consultation and exchange of information in Baltimore County,” and, particularly, from holding “a meeting, gathering and/or rallies” on June 9 and 10, 1967,1 from 7:30 to 9:00 p. m. in the public park at the rear of the Dundalk Shopping Center.

Defendant moved to dismiss the complaint for various reasons discussed below. That motion was denied at the hearing on June 2, 1967, and evidence was taken on plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and defendant's answer thereto.

Two of the plaintiffs (Brailsford and Robusto) are candidates for election as delegates to the Maryland State Constitutional Convention from the Seventh District of Baltimore County, which includes the Dundalk area. The election is scheduled for June 13, 1967. All of the individual plaintiffs except Robusto are members of the National States Rights Party, also a plaintiff, which is an unincorporated “political party, organization or pressure group,” which seeks to persuade those who hold public office and the public generally to adopt its social, political and economic philosophy, and to secure the election of candidates sympathetic thereto, by means of public and private meetings, speeches and the distribution of its publications. The evidence indicates that it is a “White” racist organization, of an extreme type. Plaintiff Norton is Coordinator of the Party, plaintiff Carroll is Youth Leader of the Party, and the Party is supporting Brailsford and Robusto as candidates for election to the Constitutional Convention.

On April 13, 1967, Carroll, as Youth Director of the Party, formally requested “police cooperation” in holding outdoor political rallies on April 22 and 23, from 3:00 to 5:00 p. m. each day, in the public park to the rear of the Dundalk Shopping Center. The letter states :

“The purpose of the rallies will be to develop White political unity and to obtain signatures to help petition the recently passed Open Occupancy Law to the November ’68 ballot. Also discussed will be the coming Constitutional Convention plus a general call for White political unity.”

On April 17 defendant replied stating:

“First, I do not have the authority to grant a permit in any park facility. This is the responsibility of the Department of Recreation — Mr. Hubert Snyder.
“Under Section 17-12 of the Baltimore County Code, I do have the authority to issue or deny permits for public gatherings.
“Your letter indicates the purpose of this rally is to develop white politi[535]*535cal unity and obtain signatures to help petition the recently passed Open Occupancy law to the November. 1968 ballot; also a general call for white political unity. This in itself gives me reason to believe that this is a racial issue and could incite our citizens to racial hate and possibly riot. Therefore, I must deny your request for a public gathering permit.”

On April 18, Norton, as Coordinator of the Party, wrote defendant: “We are fortunate enough to have available private property in the same area. * * * Unless we hear to the contrary, we will begin preparations for the rallies at once.” On April 26, defendant denied the request, stating: “There is a strong possibility that any demonstration or rally pertaining to racial issues could develop into a disorderly affair, and therefore, endanger the safety and welfare of the citizens of Baltimore County.”

On May 7, Brailsford and Robusto wrote defendant as follows:

“We, the undersigned, are candidates for the Constitutional Convention election to be held June 13th, 1967.
“On the nights of June 9th and 10th, beginning at 7:30 p. m. and ending at 9 p. m. each night, we will conduct political rallies to promote our election.
“The rallies will be held in the Public Park just to the rear of the Dundalk Shopping Center. The Park is within our election District.
“The undersigned will speak on political matters and other candidates and concerned citizens will be allowed to speak.
“We understand that the police inspect, for safety reasons, the loudspeaking equipment. This we acknowledge but we will not be denied our right of assembly or freedom of speech. We will not submit any advance text of our speeches.
“We wish to cooperate with your Department in any manner and will discuss details with your men in the evenings when we are off from work.
“Again, we will hold these rallies, and will not accept any adverse ruling or flimsy last-minute excuse as reason to deny us our Constitutional Rights or interfere with our political campaign. “Thank you for your cooperation.” (emphasis in original.)

On May 17, defendant replied, acknowledging the letter and stating:

“I must again inform you that under Section 17-12 of the Baltimore County Code, you are required to obtain a permit from the Police Bureau to hold any public gathering. Since I have no authority over the public parks in Baltimore County, I could not grant this permission if I so desired. In addition to this, I firmly believe that for the safety and welfare of the citizens of Baltimore County, I must deny any request from you and your organization for a permit to hold these rallies in Baltimore County.”

Section 17-12 of the Baltimore County Code, referred to in defendant’s letters, provides:

“Nonprofit public gatherings.
“(a) Any person, club, association or corporation, not operating for personal profit, who or which desires to hold any public entertainment, picnic or gathering in the county, whether or not any admission charge or collection for same is made by said person, club, association or corporation, shall make application to the chief of police of the county in such form as he shall require for a permit to hold said public gathering. Such permit shall be issued without charge and shall continue for the period of time named therein. No such permit shall be issued unless the person, club, association or corporation is deemed fit, responsible and proper to receive same, by the chief of police. Any such event which is to be held in any enclosed place shall, prior to the issuance of the permit, be referred to the buildings engineer so that he may make or cause to be made an inspection of the safety of said premises. If the buildings en[536]*536gineer shall disapprove any premises for the holding of an event, the chief of police shall not issue the permit herein provided for even though the person, club, association or corporation applying for same be otherwise fit, responsible and proper. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a permit for any church for the holding of religious services nor for any established fraternal, political or civic group in the holding of regular meetings.

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863 F. Supp. 2d 462 (D. Maryland, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
269 F. Supp. 533, 1967 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8784, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/norton-v-ensor-mdd-1967.