A judge struck down an ordinance enacted to prevent demonstrations outside John Demjanjuk's home, but he kept some restrictions on protests against the man acquitted of being a Nazi death camp guard.
Common Pleas Judge Daniel J. Gaul ruled Wednesday that the city of Seven Hills' ban on picketing in residential areas was unconstitutionally broad.In a separate ruling, Gaul lifted his temporary ban on weekend protests at Demjanjuk's house but left in place a limit on picketing hours. He also reduced the maximum number of protesters from 30 to 25.
"This for us has been a great victory because Demjanjuk is imprisoned within his own home," said Rabbi Avi Weiss, who has led the demonstrations.
Seven Hills law director Allen A. Kacenjar said no decision had been made on whether to appeal.
Demjanjuk, 73, returned to the United States in September after the Israeli Supreme Court overturned his death sentence on charges he was Ivan the Terrible, a guard at the Treblinka death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Evidence indicated the Ukranian-born Demjanjuk had been a camp guard elsewhere.
Seven Hills, fearing violence upon Demjanjuk's return, banned picketing in residential areas. It then asked Gaul to rule on the ban's constitutionality.
The city also asked Gaul to restrict protests taking place in the meantime. He imposed restrictions in an order issued in October.
Eleven protesters marched peacefully outside Demjanjuk's home on Wednesday, calling on the government to deport him.