10-03-2025
Germantown drops citation for holiday decorations
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The City of Germantown has dropped a citation against a woman they said violated the city's holiday decorations ordinance.
Alexis Luttrell claimed her First Amendment rights were violated when she received a citation in January to remove skeleton decorations she used for Halloween, then for Christmas.
Luttrell was told the decorations violated Ordinance 11-33, which prohibits residents from placing holiday and seasonal decorations on their property more than 45 days before or 30 days after the intended holiday.
Court records show the charge was listed as nolle pros last week.
Germantown considers getting rid of ordinance at center of skeleton decorations lawsuit
'I'm beyond pleased that I'm no longer on trial for nothing more than decorating my yard in a way that City Hall didn't like,' Luttrell said in a news release from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. 'That these charges were ever brought in the first place was utterly surreal, but I'm glad that they're dead and buried — and my skeletons aren't.'
Luttrell told WREG she purchased a skeleton and a dog skeleton for yard displays throughout the year.
Her lawsuit claims Germantown is dictating how residents celebrate holidays and its decorations ordinance is unconstitutionally vague.
'I want to protect not only my First Amendment rights but those of my community,' said Luttrell. 'It shouldn't be left up to Germantown whether my holiday decor matches their personal taste or preference.'
Germantown resident summoned to court over holiday decor
Complaint for Civil Rights Violations – Luttrell v. City of Germantown TennesseeDownload
According to court documents, Luttrell said that ordinance violates the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment because it is vague and fails to give fair notice to the public and give officials discretion to arbitrarily enforce it according to their own subjective beliefs.
Luttrell said she wanted the court to declare Germantown violated her rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments and wants the city's holiday ordinance thrown out entirely.
The Germantown Board of Aldermen will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday at City Hall to discuss repealing the city's ordinance.
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