Hill v. Colorado, 530 U.S. 703 (2000), was a United States Supreme Court decision regarding the First Amendment. The Court ruled 6–3 that the right to free speech was not violated by a Colorado law limiting protest, education, distribution of literature, or counseling within eight feet of a person entering a healthcare facility.

Background

In response to protesting at abortion clinics, Colorado legislated that protesters within one hundred feet of any healthcare facility may not approach within eight feet of any other person without consent for the purpose of protest, education, distribution of literature, or counseling.

Decision

Majority opinion

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the majority opinion:

Souter's concurring opinion

Justices David Souter, Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer concurred:

Scalia's dissenting opinion

Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented:

Kennedy's dissenting opinion

Justice Anthony Kennedy dissented: