[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit [official website] has overturned [ruling, PDF] a Missouri law [text] banning sexually suggestive billboards on highways, saying that it was an unconstitutional infringement on commercial free speech. The court ruled Monday that the law, which was enacted in 2004 to protect children and prevent traffic accidents, was too broad. According to Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton [official profile], the court's ruling "leaves Missourians of every age exposed to sleazy billboards."

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon [official profile] plans to seek a rehearing by the entire appeals court. AP has more.