A federal judge has ruled that the New Hampshire town of Conway violated the free speech rights of a local bakery owner when it attempted to force the removal or alteration of a colorful mural depicting pastries, concluding a closely watched First Amendment dispute.
U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante issued the decision Monday, siding with Sean Young, owner of Leavitt’s Country Bakery, after a one-day trial earlier this year.
The mural, painted by local high school students, features sunbeams shining down on a mountain range of doughnuts, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and other treats.
Laplante’s order bars Conway from enforcing an ordinance against the mural related sign size, criticizing the town’s handling of the case….