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Gitlow v. New York
Benjamin Gitlow wrote a document entitled "Left Wing Manifesto" about the Red Scare in a local newspaper. The court convicted him, but after a hearing they decided his writing was legal, just frowned upon because of what was going on. -
Life Magazine v. United States
Life magazine is banned in the U.S. for publishing pictures from the public health film “The Birth of a Baby.” -
Engel v. Vitale
A nondenominational prayer was said at the beginning of the day at public school. A mother was angered and it was taken to court. This was found to go against the "establishment of religion" clause in the first amendment. -
Sherbert v. Verner
the U.S. Supreme Court rules that South Carolina officials violated the free-exercise rights of Seventh-day Adventist Adele Sherbert when they denied her unemployment-compensation benefits because she refused to work on Saturday, her Sabbath day. -
United States v. O'Brien
David O'Brien burned his draft card in front of a Boston courthouse. He was convicted under a federal law that made the destruction or mutilation of drafts card a crime. In court, he was found not guilty as his right to freedom of speech and protest was protected by the first amendment. -
Brandenburg v. Ohio
Clarence Brandenburg was a member of the KKK. He invited a Cincinnati news reporter to cover a KKK rally that would take place in Hamilton County. The news covered the rally and saw what you would expect. The men were dressed in robes and hoods, burning crosses and making speeches. The speeches discussed vengeance against minorities and how the government suppresses whites. After a trial against Brandenburg, he was convicted, but they reversed this knowing that they cannot punish this. -
Coates v. City of Cincinnati
Coates, a student at University of Cincinnati, had assembled a group to protest on the sidewalk of Cincinnati. This was going a city ordnance saying no more than three can assemble on city property. After being taken to Supreme Court, they found in a 5-3 decision that the ordinance was going against the first amendment. -
Cohen v. California
In protest, a man named Paul Cohen was protesting the draft by making a jacket that reads "F*** the Draft". He was arrested, convicted and held for 30 days. After a 5-4 decision, Cohen was found not guilty because of his freedom of speech and protest. -
Bates v. State Bar of Arizonia
John Bates a just created a legal firm and wanted to advertise. The court had claimed this could make him an advantage and get more customers so the advertisement was unlawful. After going to a state court, they decided that the advertisement was legal due to the freedom of speech and can still be used. -
Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York
Outside of Planned Parenthood clinics, protesters can often be found. At one clinic, a "buffer zone" was put in place so workers and patients cannot be harassed in a certain area. Paul Schenck challenged this ruling saying it was unconstitutional. In an 8-1, the Supreme Court allowed the "buffer zones", but did not allow the "floating buffer zones". PSA; the picture I have chosen has no reflection on my stand on the issue. -
United States v. American Library Association
Congress offered to fund public libraries with free computers as long as they can monitor what goes on on the computers. In a Supreme Court case with a ruling of 6-3, they found that Congress does have the authority to monitor the computers. -
United States v. Alvarez
The Stolen Valor Act is forbidding unauthorized wear, manufacture or sale of any military decorations and medals by making it a misdemeanor to falsely represent oneself as having received any US military decoration or medal. Xavier Alvarez was speaking at a board meeting, mentioned being a marine & how he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was not awarded this and this was taken very seriously. Alvarez was convicted, but after reaching a supreme court they reversed the conviction.
