Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc. explained

Litigants:Young v. American Mini Theatres
Arguedate:March 24
Argueyear:1976
Decidedate:June 24
Decideyear:1976
Fullname:Young, Mayor of Detroit, et al. v. American Mini Theatres, Incorporated, et al.
Usvol:427
Uspage:50
Parallelcitations:96 S. Ct. 2440; 49 L. Ed. 2d 310; 1976 U.S. LEXIS 3; 1 Media L. Rep. 1151
Holding:It is constitutional for a city to enact a zoning rule that treats ordinary cinemas differently from adult cinemas.
Majority:Stevens (Parts I, II)
Joinmajority:Burger, White, Powell, Rehnquist
Plurality:Stevens (Part III)
Joinplurality:Burger, White, Rehnquist
Concurrence:Powell
Dissent:Stewart
Joindissent:Brennan, Marshall, Blackmun
Dissent2:Blackmun
Joindissent2:Brennan, Stewart, Marshall
Lawsapplied:U.S. Const. amend. I

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 the 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 (thus limiting Part III of the opinion to a plurality), but wrote that this is only a place restriction with a limited effect on speech.

See also