Fortuneteller ban ruled unconstitutional

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ALEXANDRIA, La., July 13 (UPI) -- A law forbidding fortunetellers to work in the central Louisiana city of Alexandria is unconstitutional, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Dee Drell agreed with a June recommendation by U.S. Magistrate James D. Kirk, The (Alexandria) Town Talk reported.

Drell said the law banning fortunetellers is a violation of First Amendment rights to free speech.

He pointed out fortunetelling is practiced in New Orleans.

"We also note with interest that the 'art' of fortunetelling proliferates in front of St. Louis Cathedral, in the city of New Orleans, apparently without incident," Drell wrote.

The Alexandria law banned palmistry, card reading, fortunetelling and what the The Town Talk called "other otherworldly communications."

"To apply the ordinance literally would outlaw every 'amateur psychiatrist, parlor sage and bar-stool philosopher' in Alexandria who dares to suggest to another what the future may hold," Kirk wrote.

Rachel Adams, whose shop was banned under the law in 2011, had told The Town Talk last year she's a fifth-generation psychic.

Drell's Tuesday ruling pointed out the city didn't object to Kirk's recommendation.