Walker’s administration revised its Capitol access policy in December 2011 to require permits for any organized activity in the Capitol, even if it was performed by only one person. Three or fewer people gathered to promote a cause are exempt. Police have issued the singers dozens upon dozens of citations.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit challenging the policy. U.S. District Judge William Conley issued a preliminary injunction on July 9 stating groups of fewer than 20 people don’t need a permit and the policy’s preference for cause-promoting speech was an unconstitutional restriction of speech and can’t be enforced. He didn’t rule on the constitutionality of the permit policy as a whole, however, setting a trial for Jan. 13.