Appeals court to rehear case of California man removed from council meeting after Nazi salute

Court in SF to rehear Nazi salute case

SAN FRANCISCO — A California man who was ordered removed from a Santa Cruz City Council meeting after making a one-armed Nazi salute has won another day in court.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said Friday a majority of its justices have agreed to rehear Robert Norse’s case against the city of Santa Cruz. The same court in November dismissed Norse’s contention that his right to freedom of speech had been violated.

Norse was arrested at the March 2002 meeting after he made the Nazi gesture and refused to leave. He was arrested again in 2004 when he refused another order from the city council to leave after parading around council chambers.

The appeals court had said the council was justified in asking Norse to leave both meetings because he was disruptive.