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Patterson v Colorado
A newspaper publisher printed articles and cartoons criticizing a decision made by the Colorado Supreme Court. He argued that he should be able to present truth as a defense. -
Schenck v United States
Charles Scheck was part of a U.S. Socialist Party that opposed the implementation of a military draft. He was arrested for violating the Espionage Act due to sharing leaflets that called men that resist military services. Schencks’ counsel argued that the Espionage Act was unconstitutional and that he was just expressing his freedom of speech. -
Near v Minnesota
A newspaper called The Saturday Press written by Jay Near and Howard Guilford accused officials of being involved with gangsters. It was sought that it violated the Public Nuisance Law was violated because it basically says that if you have any info about illegal actions you must give it to the police. Though, it was held that they were not protected by the 1st amendment. -
Braunfeld v Brown
Abraham Braunfeld owns a store in Philadelphia. Due to his faith he can’t work on Saturdays because of the Sabbath. The Pennsylvania blue law allows certain stores to remain open for business on Sundays but Braunfeld’s store wasn’t one of those stores. So he challenged the law in violating his freedom of religion because he needed to be open 6 days a week but can’t because of his faith and the blue law. Though, the Court said that the blue law doesn’t violate the 1st amendment. -
Engel v Vitale
New York’s States Board of Regents wrote a voluntary prayer that could be recited by the students. A group of parents (Steven Engel) objected the prayer and sued the school board president William Vitale. In conclusion, the supreme court ruled that the New York’s States of Regents violates the first amendment. -
Edwards v South Carolina
187 black students were arrested for “breach of the peace” as they protested of grievances to the citizens of South Carolina and legislative bodies. The court favored in the students because it was clear that convicting these students they would be violating the 1st amendment. -
Tinker v Des Moines Independent School District
John and Mary Beth Tinker and friend Chris Eckhardt wore black armbands to protest the war in Vietnam. They were suspended because they were told to take it off but they wouldn’t. Their parents sued the school because they violated their right under the first amendment. -
Lemon v Kurtzman
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island adopted states that provide for the state to pay for aspect of non-secular and non-public education which also supplement 15% of the teachers’ annual salaries. Appellants believe that the statute violates the 1st amendment then sued. The district court favored in the appellees. -
Bethel School District v Fraser
Matthew Fraser was suspended for giving a speech to nominate another student for student government office. His speech had a lot of use of elaborate, graphic, and explicit sexual metaphors. He then later sued the school for violating his right to freedom of speech. But the first amendment doesn’t prevent school districts from disciplining students for using inappropriate actions. -
Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier
Student from Hazelwood East High that were in the Journalism class wrote 2 articles about divorce and teenage pregnancies. The principal felt the articles were inappropriate and that these topics may not be suitable for young teenagers. In conclusion, the principal prohibited these articles from being published. As a result the student that wrote the articles sued the school for violating the 1st amendment but supreme court decided that no rights were violated. -
Texas v Johnson
Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American Flag to protest the policies of President Ronald Reagan. He was arrested and charged with violating a Texas statue. Appealed and argued that his actions were “symbolic speech” protected by the 1st amendment. The court ruled in the favor of Johnson and that his actions were protected by the 1st amendment. -
Morse v Frederick
Joseph Frederick unfurled a banner saying “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” during a school event at Juneau-Douglas High School. The principal Deborah Morse suspended him for refusing to put it down and violating school policies that forbid encouraging the use of illegal drugs. The U.S district of Alaska ruled for Morse because Frederick’s actions wasn’t protected by the 1st amendment.