In a lawsuit challenging Athens-Clarke County's noise ordinance -- filed on behalf of two University of Georgia students who were threatened with, but not issued, a citation for an alleged violation -- Athens attorney Chuck Jones contends that music is a constitutionally protected form of expresssion, and that the volume of music is an integral part of that expression.

In a brief, Jones argues, "One would think it very strange indeed to hear Brahms' Lullaby belted out at earsplitting intensity or to hear Queen's 'We Will Rock You/We Are Champions' softly whispered. Or maybe not.

In addition to being a terrible politician, Charles A. “Chuck” Jones is also a terrible lawyer, judging by news reports of a state Supreme Court hearing.

Jones, a failed 2006 candidate for county commission, continued a vendetta against Athens-Clarke officials when he filed a lawsuit seeking to have the county’s noise ordinance declared unconstitutional. I’m no legal scholar, but the idea seemed ridiculous on its face.

Judge David Sweat threw out the case, but Jones and the two music-blaring UGA students he represents appealed to the state Supreme Court, which heard the case today. It does not look good for Jones.