SALT LAKE CITY (AP)--The Mormon Church suffered a setback Thursday in its fight to restrict speech on sidewalks running through its downtown plaza, but vowed to take the dispute to the Supreme Court.
A federal appeals court that had prohibited the church from banning protests and other forms of free speech on the sidewalks rejected the church's request for a new hearing, but the church said it won't give up.
``The way is now clear for the Church to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the matter,'' the church said in a statement issued immediately after Thursday's decision.
The city sold the land for the plaza--once a part of Main Street--to the church, but retained easement rights to ensure pedestrian access.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled last month that because sidewalks are a traditional public forum, the city should protect free-speech rights there.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City sued after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints imposed rules restricting protests, demonstrations and other activities on the one-block plaza.
A lower-court judge agreed with the Mormon church and the city that the limits were constitutional. But the appeals court overturned that decision.
After buying the block of Main Street for $8.1 million, the Mormon church turned it into a plaza with fountains, reflecting pools, plants and statues.