DO NOT KNOCK? LOVELL TO WATCHTOWER AND BACK AGAIN

Geoffrey D. Korff, Quaker City Castings

Abstract

This article looks at the commercial speech doctrine through the lens of a recent development in how the doctrine is being applied to organizations that canvas neighborhoods to speak on behalf of political, charitable, or religious organizations. The article also traces the history of the commercial speech doctrine, up through the present era.

Several municipalities, most of which are located in Ohio, have taken a novel approach to preventing this type of canvassing. They have enacted a version of the federal "Do-Not-Call" list, which applies to canvassers. Current rulings from the Supreme Court do not clarify how this dilemma will likely resolve itself.