Northrop Ad Ban Back in Court: The...

Northrop Ad Ban Back in Court: The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments by the federal government about why a ban on a series of Northrop Corp. “image ads” should be upheld. Assistant U.S. Atty. Steven G. Madison reiterated the government’s position that the ad would influence a jury in a criminal trial against Northrop that is scheduled to begin today. The ads feature legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager, who is to testify on behalf of Northrop at the trial. A Northrop attorney argued that a ban would be a restraint of Northrop’s First Amendment rights of free speech. A U.S. District judge initially ordered that the defense company be prohibited from running the ads, but the appeals court Feb. 16 issued an emergency stay of that order. A three-judge appeals panel, which viewed four of the 11 ads in a San Francisco courtroom, is expected to rule soon.