skip navigation
MRSC logo

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC
About Our Blog Our Authors

MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Robert Sepler

Ninth Circuit Holds Reed v. Town of Gilbert Does Not Extend to Commercial Speech

October 3, 2017  by  Robert Sepler
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Sign Control

On August 16, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion in Contest Promotions v. City and County of San Francisco, providing its first official guidance on the question of whether Reed v. Town of Gilbert controls the regulation of commercial speech as well as noncommercial speech. In this blog post, MRSC Legal Consultant Robert Sepler gives an overview of this case.

Read more

What Can Local Governments Do About Drones

March 10, 2017  by  Robert Sepler
Category:  Licensing and Regulation

Wondering what the latest is regarding drones? This blog post provides a quick overview of what local governments in Washington can and cannot do to regulate drone use in their jurisdiction.

Read more

Sanctuary Cities and Counties

February 16, 2017  by  Robert Sepler
Category:  Governance

Sanctuary cities and counties have recently taken center stage in the national debate on immigration. While MRSC does not take a position on this issue, this post will explore what "sanctuary" jurisdictions are.

Read more

The PRA and Nextdoor.com: 3 Things Public Officials Should Know Before They Log On

March 16, 2016  by  Robert Sepler
Category:  Public Records Act

You’ve likely heard a lot about the public records concerns with social media, but Nextdoor, a relatively new social networking website focused on distinct neighborhoods, represents a new twist on social media that has some unique Public Records Act (PRA) implications.

Read more

Courts in the Ninth Circuit Decline to Extend Reed v. Town of Gilbert to Commercial Speech

October 23, 2015  by  Robert Sepler
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Sign Control

After the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert four months ago striking down that Arizona town’s sign code as being unconstitutionally content-based, some commentators, including one from The New York Times, were quick to raise the alarm that the decision would have consequences far beyond local sign codes. Although the decision has undoubtedly created uncertainty, it has not yet led to any such consequences so far in the Ninth Circuit, the federal circuit that includes Washington State.

Read more

Drones: Whether Local Governments Can Regulate Unmanned Aircraft

February 25, 2015  by  Robert Sepler
Category:  Licensing and Regulation

Can or should local governments in Washington regulate the use of drones?

Read more