Cincinnati has petitioned the US Supreme Court to  review the issue of whether a municipal excise tax on billboards abridges freedom of speech.  The Ohio State Supreme Court ruled that a billboard tax infringed on the first amendment rights of a small group of speakers.  A Maryland Supreme Court ruled it does not.  To quote Cincinnati:

The highest courts of Maryland and Ohio have each considered the same First Amendment question, applied the same law from this court, and reached diametrically opposed conclusions.  Because there is an interstate conflict on this important First Amendment issue, this court should resolve the conflict by granting the City of Cincinnati’s petition for writ of certiorari.

Billboard Insider’s take:  The Supreme Court takes up only a handful of the review requests it receives.   The Supreme Court may step in, however, because two state courts have taken opposing views.  Clear Channel Outdoor has requested the Supreme Court to review the Baltimore Billboard Tax

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