Hearing held about offensive anti-abortion billboard in Alamogordo
A verbal order to remove it has already been given.
For now, Greg A. Fultz’s anti-abortion billboard will remain posted on White Sands Boulevard. That could change if 12th Judicial District Judge James W. Counts signs a recommendation forcing Fultz to remove it.
Fultz was verbally ordered to remove the sign before Friday’s hearing by the Domestic Violence Court Commissioner Darrell N. Brantley on June 1.
The billboard first came under fire when a Right to Life New Mexico representative said they asked Fultz to remove their endorsement of the billboard prior to it being displayed on Alamogordo’s main thoroughfare.
The billboard depicts an Alamogordo businessman, GEFNET owner Fultz, 35, holding what appears to be the outline of a baby in his arms as he is looking down at it. Next to the picture, in large print, is the statement, “This Would Have Been A Picture Of My 2-month Old Baby If The Mother Had Decided To Not KILL Our Child!”
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Prior to Friday’s hearing, Brantley did notify both Fultz’s attorney and Nani Lawrence’s attorney to present written arguments to the court for Counts to review and consider.
Brantley had heard arguments about whether Fultz’s conduct was protected under the First Amendment as free speech.
However, Brantley stated in his recommendations to the court he has no authority to establish binding precedents of constitutional law, but upholds his original verbal order.
He has based his recommendation on evidence filed by Lawrence’s attorney Ellen Jessen that Fultz committed acts of domestic abuse against Lawrence consisting of infliction of emotional harm and harassment based upon a pattern of Internet posting and the purchasing of the billboard to display a highly offensive and personal verbal attack upon her.
Fultz could be restrained also from writing anything about Lawrence on the Internet if Counts signs Brantley’s recommended restraining and relief order.
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Greg Fultz, who paid for the controversial anti-abortion billboard on White Sands Boulevard, talks with his attorney Todd Holmes following a hearing in domestic violence court Friday at the Otero County Courthouse. (J.R. Oppenheim/Daily News)
The caption is vague. Judging by the photo on the billboard, I believe Mr. Fultz is facing us in that photo, and his lawyer is showing us his mullet. In the billboard, it looks like Mr. Fultz has a mullet. I think he got a haircut.
It’s interesting that the case is in a Domestic Violence Court when Mr. Fultz thinks it’s a free speech issue. I hope he loses and has to pay Ms. Lawrence a bundle.
See also Creepy middle-aged man really wanted to force his teenage girlfriend to have his baby and NM Man Gets ‘Revenge’ On his Ex By Posting Billboard Accusing Her of Having Abortion (and thanks for the Tag suggestions, guys!)