The State of Wyoming has settled a federal
lawsuit filed by an anti-abortion group.
     Under the settlement, the state admitted that state officials
violated the constitutional rights of WyWatch Family Action by
removing a display of materials it posted in a tunnel leading to
the state Capitol last year.
     U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal approved the settlement
and dismissed the lawsuit on Thursday.
     Under the settlement, the state admits that it
unconstitutionally prevented WyWatch from engaging in protected
expression during the 2011 legislative session. The state agreed to
pay the group $1 in nominal damages and $30,000 in attorney fees.
     The State Building Commission, made up of the state's five
statewide elected officials, this year banned all outside groups
from displaying materials in the tunnel.