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Feiner v. New York
In 1949, Irving Feiner made an inflammatory speech on a street corner in Syracuse, New York. Feiner made several disparaging remarks about local politicians, organizations, and President Truman. Two officers on the scene asked Feiner to end his speech. After he refused, the officers arrested Feiner for encouraging a breach of the peace. The Court found that Feiner's First Amendment rights were not violated because his arrest came when the police thought that a riot might occur. -
Police Department of the City of Chicago v. Mosley
Chicago adopted an ordinance prohibiting picketing within 150 feet of a school during school hours; the law made an exception for peaceful labor picketing. Mosley had been picketing near a public high school; he was protesting "black discrimination." Mosley sought a declaration that the ordinance was unconstitutional. The exemption for labor picketing violated the equal protection clause. -
Wooley v. Maynard
A New Hampshire law required all noncommercial vehicles to bear license plates containing the state motto "Live Free or Die." George Maynard, found the motto to be contrary to his religious and political beliefs and cut the words "or Die" off his plate. Maynard was convicted of violating the state law and was subsequently fined and given a jail sentence. The Court held that New Hampshire could not constitutionally require citizens to display the state motto upon their vehicle license plates. -
Lynch v. Donnelly
The city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, annually erected a Christmas display located in the city's shopping district. The display included such objects as a Santa Claus house, a Christmas tree, a banner reading "Seasons Greetings," and a nativity scene. The creche had been included in the display for over 40 years. Daniel Donnelly objected to the display and took action against Dennis Lynch, the Mayor of Pawtucket. The Court held that the symbols posed no danger of establishing a state church. -
Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
Ronald W. Rosenberger, a Virginia State University student, asked the University for $5,800 from a student activities fund to sponsor the publishing costs of Wide Awake: A Christian Perspective at the University of Virginia. The University refused to provide funding for the publication solely because it "primarily promotes or manifests a particular belief." The Court concluded that the University could not stop all funding of religious speech. -
Hill v. Colorado
A Colorado statute makes it unlawful for any person within 100 feet of a health care facility's entrance to "knowingly approach" within 8 feet of another person, without that person's consent. Leila Hill is a sidewalk counselor who offers other options to women about abortion and was claiming violations of their First Amendment free speech rights and right to a free press. The Court held that the Colorado statute's restrictions on speech-related conduct are constitutional. -
McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky
The American Civil Liberties Union sued three Kentucky counties in the federal district court for displaying framed copies of the Ten Commandments in courthouses and public schools. The ACLU argued the displays violated the First Amendment's establishment clause, which prohibits the government from passing laws "respecting an establishment of religion." The majority held that the displays violated the establishment clause because their purpose had been to advance religion. -
Guiles v. Marineau
Plaintiff Zachary Guiles, a 13-year-old student at Williamstown Middle School, claims his right under the First Amendment to wear a T-shirt depicting President George W. Bush in an inappropriate way. The shirt displays images of drugs and alcohol. The United States District Court held the school's censorship, acceptable of Guiles's First Amendment rights. The district court also ordered that the disciplinary action defendants took against plaintiff be expunged from his school record. -
Snyder v. Phelps
The family of deceased Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder filed a lawsuit against members of the Westboro Baptist Church who picketed at his funeral. The family accused the church and its founders of defamation and the intentional infliction of emotional distress for displaying signs that said, "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "Fag troops" at Snyder's funeral. The Court held that the First Amendment shields those who stage a protest at the funeral of a military service member from liability. -
Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC
Cheryl Perich filed a lawsuit against the Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church Michigan, for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act when they fired her after she became sick in 2004. After a couple months on disability, she was diagnosed and treated for narcolepsy and able to return to work without restrictions. But she said the school urged her to resign and, when she refused, fired her. The Court held that Perich was an exception for the purposes of the Civil Rights Acts. -
Town of Greece v. Galloway
In Greece, New York, public meetings began with a prayer given by an invited member. The town did not adopt any rules as to who may lead the prayer. In 2007, Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens complained about the town's prayer practices. They sued the town, J. Auberger and argued that the town's practices violated the Establishment Clause, by favoring Christianity. The Court held that the First Amendment suggested that the Establishment Clause was never meant to forbid legislative prayer.
