PORTLAND (AP) – A federal judge has ordered Augusta to pay $83,264 in legal fees and expenses to antiwar protesters who challenged the constitutionality of the city’s parade permit ordinance five years ago.
U.S. District Judge John Woodcock agreed Wednesday that demonstration organizers had won a significant victory for the exercise of First Amendment rights in Maine’s capitol city and were entitled to reasonable attorney fees.
A federal appeals court in 2007 ruled that the advance notice and meeting requirements of the ordinance were unconstitutional and that the permit fee charged to demonstrators was excessive.
The plaintiffs’ legal team initially claimed more than $221,000, some of which was reduced voluntarily prior to Woodcock’s ruling.
AP-ES-06-10-09 1737EDT
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