Court nixes 2 sections of Lakewood anti-panhandling ordinance

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Supreme Court has invalidated two sections of the City of Lakewood's anti-panhandling ordinance, saying that the sections violated the First Amendment rights of a man convicted for walking into the traffic lanes at Interstate 5's northbound exit ramp.

Six of the high court's nine justices agreed Thursday that the 2012 conviction of Robert Willis — who walked onto the exit holding a sign that said he was disabled and needed help — should be reversed. Willis had been sentenced to 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000, though the jail time was suspended, as was $750 of the fine. He was also assessed $125 in costs at the time.

A spokesman for the city said officials were in the process of preparing a statement to be released later in the day.