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Stromberg vs. California
The State of California brings this case to Supreme Court for the displaying of a red flag. California supports their argument by saying her red flag was a sign of opposing organized government and spreading propaganda. Stromberg defends herself by using the First Amendment, saying that this was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court found Stromberg to be guilty. -
Feiner vs. New York
Feiner was arrested for speaking out against President Truman and did not stop when asked. Feiner's speech and protest caused a gathering in the streets of New York of about 70-80 people. The Supreme Court found Feiner guilty, saying his act of freedom of speech was putting the public in danger. -
Dennis vs. United States
Dennis was accused of spreading communism throughout the United States. The law states it is illegal to plot against the US government, even if it was not violent. The Supreme Court found Dennis to be guilty, because they felt as though he was threatening the government and put the public in danger. -
Joseph Burstyn Inc. vs. Wilson
This Supreme Court case dealt with freedom of speech through filming. The New York Education Law says there were to be no films shared without proper sensory and consent. He shared his films without "proper" authorization, and the prosecutor (Wilson) called his films "sacreligious." Joseph Burstyn Inc. argues that this is a violation of the First Amendment regarding freedom of speech. Joseph Burstyn Inc. is taken to the Supreme Court and Joseph Burstyn Inc. wins. -
Scales vs. United States
In this Supreme Court case, Scales was accused of provoking communism in an attempt to overthrow the government. Scales defends himself by saying he has rights to the First Amendment: the freedom of speech. Scales was found guilty and sent to jail for an attempt to overthrow the US government. -
Pickering v. Board of Education
A techer wrote a letter to a newspaper and in which he criticized the Board. He was fired because of this incident and he argued that he could not be fired because he was protected under the First Amendments right to freedom of speech. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the teacher and said that the Board violated the teachers right to freedom of speech and did not have the right to fire him for the reason they did. -
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District
John F. Tinker, Mary Beth Tinker and Christopher Eckhardt wore black armbands to their schools in December of 1965 to protest the Vietnam War. They were suspended because the school district said that they could return after obeying the police. The supreme court ruled in favor of the students and said it was the school was violating their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. -
Cohen v. California
The state argued that four letter words meant to disturb the peace and promote violence were illegal and could not be displayed in public. Cohen wore a jacket displaying "f--- the draft", the state declared this and other acts like it illegal. Cohen was arrested. The Supreme Court overruled and said that Cohen had the right to his freedom of speech rights. -
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
The Supreme Court ruled that the school principle didn't violate the students First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The principle edited the school newspaper, but, made the argument that the students do have freedom of speech but not as much as they would outside of school. Basically, they can't write anything they want in their school newspaper because it could be inappropriate for a school environment. -
Texas vs. Johnson
Johnson was accused of burning the United States flag. Although Texas had a law against the burning of any flag, Johnson called this unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruled Johnson as not guilty, because his burning of the flag was an expressive act to convey a certain message. -
Snyder v. Phelps
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Phelps, the pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, saying that they had a right to their freedom of speech because it was a public issue and was disseminated on a public sidewalk. Albert Snyder the father of Matthew Snyder, the dead marine who's funeral Phelps was protesting at, took Phelps to court on charges of causing intenitonal infliction of emotional distress.
