Supreme Court Refuses Landmark Homelessness Case

"The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a major case on homelessness, letting stand a ruling that protects homeless people’s right to sleep on the sidewalk or in public parks if no other shelter is available," reports David G. Savage.

The case, Martin v. Boise, has been closely scrutinized as it moved through the appeals process and toward a potential Supreme Court hearing. Without chance of an appeal before the Supreme Court, the ruling of a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judge will stand.

"The outcome is a significant victory for homeless activists and a setback for city officials in California and other western states who argued the appeals court ruling undercut their authority to regulate encampments on the sidewalks," according to Savage.