Federal judge upholds Ohio no-touch strip club law

CLEVELAND (AP) — A federal judge has upheld Ohio’s “no-touch” law for strip clubs.

U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. in Cleveland says the state law that bans exotic dancers from touching patrons or each other does not violate First Amendment or other constitutional rights of the business owners.

The Buckeye Association of Club Executives, a trade group that represents cabarets and adult bookstores, sought to overturn the 2007 law, saying the ban is overly broad and could be applied to ballet dancers or other mainstream theatrical performers.

Judge Oliver disagreed in his ruling Monday.

There was no immediate response from a lawyer who represented the adult businesses in the lawsuit.