U of North Dakota petition restrictions upheld

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The state Supreme Court has affirmed the University of North Dakota's restrictions on people who want to circulate petitions on college property.

Roland Riemers of Emerado had argued the rules violated his free-speech rights.

Three years ago, Riemers was circulating an initiative petition aimed at changing North Dakota's child custody laws.

The university allowed Riemers to take the petition around campus. But he first had to fill out forms to get access to the campus and to visit student apartments.

Riemers was barred from walking up to people at the student union and asking them to sign. He had to sit behind a table.

A district judge upheld the policies, and the North Dakota Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously affirmed the earlier ruling.