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Reynolds v. United States
George Reynolds had married another woman while still being married. After this, he was found guilty of bigamy. However, he had married another woman because of his "religious duty to marry multiple times" but was still found guilty because "religious duty is not a defense to criminal indictment". -
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire
The first amendment doesn't protect the fighting words used by Chaplinsky when he addressed an officer and said "You are a God-damned racketeer" and "a damned Fascist". These "fighting words" can cause injury or in this case, cause a breach of peace. -
Valentine vs Chrestensen
Court upheld a NYC ordinance that had banned the distribution of commercial and business advertisements in the public streets. Was not overturned becuase commercial speech is not as protected as noncommercial speech, and these flyers were decided as economically motivated by the US Supreme court. -
Texas v Johnson
The US supreme court decided not to prosecute Gregory Lee Johnson for burning the US flag as it is within his right to protest under the first amendment. -
R.A.V. v St. Paul
An ordinance had banned the display of symbols that “arouse anger, alarm or resentment in others on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or gender," this was later found unconstitutional. The law violated the first amendment because it outlawed protest and speech based on ideas. -
Morse v. Frederick
The first amendment didn't protect a student's right to bring a banner to school reading “Bong Hits 4 Jesus”. The students have the right to use political speech, but it wasnt enough to ignore the school’s goal to decrease drug use. -
McCullen vs Coakley
In 2007, abortion clinics made it a crime to stand on a public road or side walk within 35 feet of their facility. After a long, drawn out case, the state of Massachusetts decided that this violates the First Amendment right of their citizens. -
United States vs Alvarez
The stolen valor act made it a crime to falsely claim military decorations or rank. However, Xavier Alvarez says that that violates his first amendment right to free speech. The US supreme court eventually reconciled with him and banned the stolen valor act. -
Walker vs Sons of Confederate Veterans
The government of Texas can reject a license plate with a Confederate flag design, as Texas’s license plate designs are considered government speech. -
Packingham vs. NC
The court ruled that it is unconstitutional for sex offenders to not be able to access various websites where they may speak and listen to others.
