Young v. American Mini Theatres

Case Date: 05/05/1976

Young v. American Mini Theatres, 427 U.S. 50 (1976) is a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld a city ordinance of Detroit, Michigan requiring dispersal of adult businesses throughout the city. Justice Stevens (writing for plurality) reasoned that the speech involved here is of lower value, and the city also has a compelling interest in protecting quality of life. Justice Powell (concurring) disagreed with Stevens’ “lower value speech” argument, but wrote that this is only a place restriction with a limited effect on speech.