Judge rules Springfield can ban women's exposed nipples

Federal Judge Beth Phillips yesterday ruled Springfield's public indecency ordinance banning women's exposed nipples doesn't violate the Constitution.

"There is no denying that men's and women's breasts are different. Nor is there any dispute that our society has long considered them to be different, particularly as related to matters of decency," the judge wrote in her order. "The city has a legitimate interest in promoting decency and protecting morals by prohibiting public nudity, and this interest constitutes an important governmental objective."

Phillips also ruled the city of Springfield must not reinstate a more prohibitive ordinance that requires women to hide parts of their breasts that aren't the nipple.

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