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Schenck vs. U.S.
This case involved Freedom of speech. In this case a man by the name of Oliver Wendell Holmes yelled fire in a theatre and set forth a clear and present danger. He was charged with clear and present danger. -
Near vs. Minnesota
This court case involves the freedom of press. Jay Near and his partner Howard Guilford published an article claiming that the jewish gangs were "practically ruling" the city. The publication accused many public officials. The court ruled that this was a case of prior restraint because of all the times they went to court. -
Thornhill v. Alabama
This case involved freedom of petition.The Supreme Court held that orderly union picketing that informs the public of the issues is protected by the constitutional freedom of speech and of the press and the right of petition and peaceable assembly and cannot be prosecuted under state loitering and picketing laws. -
Minersville School District vs. Gobitis
This court case involved Freedom of Religion. This court case come about because Jehovahs witnesses refused to stand and salute the flag and recite the pledge of allegience. The court ruled that the schools could compel the students to recite the pledge of allegience and stand and salute the American Flag. -
Fowler v Rhode Island
This case involves freedom of religion. Whether a municipal ordinance which is applied to penalize a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses for preaching at a peaceful religious meeting in a public park, although other religious groups could conduct religious services there, violates the First Amendment. The court ruled that the First Amendment claim upheld. -
Engel v. Vitale
This case involves freedom of religion. School initiated-prayer in the public school system violates the First Amendment. In the New York school system, each day began with a nondenominational prayer acknowledging dependence upon God. This action was challenged in Court as an unconstitutional state establishment of religion in violation of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed, stating that the government could not sponsor such religious activities. -
Cox vs. Louisiana
This case involves the freedom of assembly. In this case 23 black student protesters were jailed because they were picketing a segregated restaurant. The next day B. Elton Cox led a protest of 2,000 people to the courthouse. The police stated that they would allow the protest as long as it was across the street. Cox was accused of breach of peace, picketing near a courthouse, and the obstruction of a public passage. But was only charged with everything but breach of peace. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
This case involves Freedom of speech. Students do not leave their rights at the schoolhouse door. To protest the Vietnam War, Mary Beth Tinker and her brother wore black armbands to school. Fearing a disruption, the administration prohibited wearing such armbands. The Tinkers were removed from school when they failed to comply, but the Supreme Court ruled that their actions were protected by the First Amendment -
U.S v Gillette
Whether the conscientious objector exemption for persons subject to service in the armed forces of the United States violates the Free Exercise and Establishment clauses of the First Amendment since the exemption requires the objector to oppose all wars. The courts ruled that the Free Exercise claim was denied. -
New York Times Company vs. U.S.
This court case involves freedom of press. The US government attempted to prevent the New York Times and the Washington Post from printing classified documents concerning the wietnam war. This case ended in prior restraint. -
U.S vs. Grace
This case involves freedom of petition. Congress tried to isolate the U.S. Supreme Court from demonstations or lobbying on the court steps. But the high court held that the acts of distributing leaflets and carrying picket signs on the public sidewalk around the building were protected by the First Amendment. -
McDonald vs. Smith
The Supreme Court unanimously held that statements made in a petition to the government are not entitled to greater consitutional protection than other First Amendment expressions. In letters written to President Reagan concerning someone being considered for U.S. attorney, the writer made false and derogatory statements. The letter writer was sued for libel. The writer pleaded that the Petition Clause of the First Amendment gave him immunity from prosecution. Wrong, said the court. -
New Jersey v. T.L.O
This case involves freedom of speech.Students have a reduced expectation of privacy in school. A teacher accused T.L.O. of smoking in the bathroom. When she denied the allegation, the principal searched her purse and found cigarettes and marijuana paraphernalia. A family court declared T.L.O. a delinquent. The Supreme Court ruled that her rights were not violated since students have reduced expectations of privacy in school. -
Hustler Magazine inc. vs, Falwell
This case involved freedom of press. Faldwell went against the Magazine company because of a parody story about Rev. Jerry Falwell. The courts stated that the person in the story must have had to show actual malice in order to recover for intentional infliction of emotional distress as a result to the publication. -
Zelma v. Simmons-Harris
This case involves freedom of speech. Certain school voucher programs are constitutional. The Ohio Pilot Scholarship Program allowed certain Ohio families to receive tuition aid from the state. This would help offset the cost of tuition at private, including parochial (religiously affiliated), schools. The Supreme Court rejected First Amendment challenges to the program and stated that such aid does not violate the Establishment Clause.
