The Supreme Court ignores debate over a Hanukkah ad on a Florida bus

A federal appeals court said the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority’s policy was unreasonable but declined to say whether any restrictions on religious advertising were unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court declined an opportunity to comment Monday, even though the conservative majority has shown sympathy for claims of religious discrimination in recent years.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Young Israel of Tampa, said the Supreme Court needs to resolve the issue. Some lower courts have said there is no “reasonable” ban on religious expression, while others have said there can be objective standards, the group’s lawyers told the court.