(AP) -- A federal judge says Occupy Columbia protesters can stay on the South Carolina Statehouse grounds 24-hours a day, at least until new rules are put in place.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled Wednesday that the protesters can use sleeping bags and tents as they continue their occupation of the grounds.
But Currie says lawmakers could write legal restrictions to prevent or regulate such activity.
She says there are no valid restrictions in place now. Currie noted the Budget and Control Board told a federal court in 1989 that it was working on such rules, but never implemented them.
Seven of the 19 protesters arrested Nov. 16 for trespassing on the Statehouse grounds sued Gov. Nikki Haley and other state officials saying their First Amendment rights had been violated.
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