NC Man Arrested for Violating Century-Old Profanity Law
A judge has ruled law unconstitutional
Police have charged a Wilson man with violating a 100-year-old profanity law that a North Carolina judge has found unconstitutional.
Prosecutors and police commanders said Friday they would examine the arrest of 37-year-old Joey Ricky Carson on a charge of using profane language on a public road or highway. Carson was arrested Dec. 21 and has a court appearance scheduled in February.
"If a court with jurisdiction has made a ruling on the statute that is applicable and that ruling deems it unconstitutional, then one possible remedy would be a voluntary dismissal," Assistant District Attorney Charles Thomas said.
Thomas was unfamiliar with Carson's case and said prosecutors would research the matter before deciding how to proceed. A judge could rule on the merits of the case in a hearing or choose to toss out the charge if prosecutors decline to dismiss it.
(Hat tip to Popehat)
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