Ward v. State of Utah

398 F.3d 1239, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 3144, 2005 WL 419760
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 23, 2005
Docket03-4245
StatusPublished
Cited by61 cases

This text of 398 F.3d 1239 (Ward v. State of Utah) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ward v. State of Utah, 398 F.3d 1239, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 3144, 2005 WL 419760 (10th Cir. 2005).

Opinion

TACHA, Chief Circuit Judge.

Plaintiff-Appellant Eric Ward burned a mink stole as part of an animal-rights protest. The State charged Mr. Ward with disorderly conduct, and because he allegedly acted “with the intent to intimidate or terrorize another person,” Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.3, the charge was enhanced from a misdemeanor to a felony. The State, however, quickly dropped the enhancement charge as mistakenly filed and eventually dropped the disorderly conduct charge as well. Mr. Ward filed suit seeking a declaration that section 76-3-203.3 violated his rights protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution and Article I, §§ 7 and 15 of the Utah Constitution. The District Court rejected these claims and granted summary judgment for the Defendants. We take jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and AFFIRM.

I. BACKGROUND

Mr. Ward regularly participates in public demonstrations to express his views concerning the ethical treatment of animals. On November 14, 1999, Mr. Ward engaged in such a demonstration in Mag-na, Utah. Although the record reveals very little about this incident, Mr. Ward admits that the protest included a candlelight vigil and the burning of a mink stole. Mr. Ward maintains that the demonstration was lawful. Nevertheless, on December 4, 2000, the State charged him with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, see Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-102, and with an enhancement provision increasing the charge to a felony. This enhancement provision authorized increased punishment for persons committing certain enumerated offenses, including disorderly conduct, with the intent to “intimidate or terrorize.” Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203.3.

The record is unclear whether the State brought the disorderly conduct charge because Mr. Ward burned the mink stole or for other reasons — nor does it explain why the State waited over a year to file these charges. The record also fails to include any evidence on which the State could have based its application of the enhancement provision. In any event, the State dropped the enhancement charge on December 27, 2000, and eventually dropped the disorderly conduct charge as well. Nevertheless, a felony arrest remains on Mr. Ward’s record.

Mr. Ward plans to continue participating in animal-rights protests and is fearful that the State will again charge him with the section 76-3-203.3 penalty enhancement. In order to avoid future prosecution, Mr. Ward brought a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action in the District Court for a declaration that section 76-3-203.3 is unconstitutional, see 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a), an injunction prohibiting the State from enforcing it against him, see 28 U.S.C. § 2202, and attorney’s fees and costs, see 42 U.S.C. § 1988(b). The suit named as defendants the State of Utah and its Governor and Attorney General, in both their individual and official capacities. The State was never served and therefore is not a party to this suit. Defendants-Appellees Governor Olene Walker and Attorney General Mark Shurt-leff filed a motion to dismiss the claims against them in their individual capacities but conceded that the suit, insofar as it sought only prospective injunctive relief, could be properly maintained against them in their official capacities.

In addition to their motion to dismiss, the Defendants also filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings. The Defendants argued that section 76-3-203.3 re *1245 quires the commission of a predicate misdemeanor offense, and because Mr. Ward only intends to engage in lawful protests, the enhancement statute will never apply to him. Before the District Court had ruled on the Defendants’ motions, Mr. Ward moved for summary judgment, arguing that there were no disputed issues of fact and that he was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The District Court concluded that Mr. Ward lacked standing and dismissed the suit. 1

Mr. Ward appealed the District Court’s decision. This Court held that:Mr. Ward had standing to contest the constitutionality of this statute and thus reversed and remanded. Ward v. Utah, 321 F.3d 1263 (10th Cir.2003) (“Ward I”). On remand, Mr. Ward moved to renew his motion for summary judgment, relying exclusively upon his arguments made prior to our reversal in Ward I. Similarly, the Defendants merely renewed their motion in opposition to summary judgment.

Although Mr. Ward’s complaint alleged constitutional violations under both the United States Constitution and the Utah Constitution, he raises only his federal arguments on appeal. Mr. Ward’s state constitutional arguments, therefore, are waived. Powers v. Harris, 379 F.3d 1208, 1214 n. 11 (10th Cir.2004).

Mr. Ward presented three arguments below, namely, that section 76-3-203.3 was unconstitutionally broad; unconstitutionally vague; and an improper time, place, or manner restriction. The District Court rejected each of these arguments. The court held that section 76-3-203.3 was not facially overbroad because it requires the commission of a misdemeanor as a predicate offense; it was not unconstitutionally vague because it has a scienter requirement; and it is a legitimate time, place, manner restriction because it is a content-neutral regulation preventing the destruction of property and true threats. The court then granted summary judgment on all claims for the Defendants sua sponte. Mr. Ward timely appealed.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review the grant of summary judgment de novo, applying the same standard as the district court. First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City v. Salt Lake City Corp., 308 F.3d 1114, 1120 (10th Cir.2002). Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). We review the factual record and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the party opposing summary judgment, which given the District Court’s sua sponte ruling is Mr. Ward. See First Unitarian Church, 308 F.3d at 1120.

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Bluebook (online)
398 F.3d 1239, 2005 U.S. App. LEXIS 3144, 2005 WL 419760, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ward-v-state-of-utah-ca10-2005.