Plaza protest appeal rejected

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is passing up a free speech case right in its own front yard.

The justices on Monday rejected an appeal from a man who says he has a right to stage a protest on the court’s marble plaza.

The court’s action comes without comment from the justices and leaves in place an appellate ruling that said the high court can bar protesters from the 20,000-square-foot, open-air plaza without violating their constitutional rights.

The appeal by Harold Hodge Jr. stemmed from his arrest in 2011 for being on the plaza while wearing a sign that criticized police treatment of blacks and Hispanics.

Protests are confined to the public sidewalk directly in front of the plaza.