The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for De Jonge v. Oregon, 299 U.S. 353 (1937) Case Summary of De Jonge v. Oregon: De Jonge was arrested under a criminal syndicalism law for speaking at a peaceful Communist Party meeting. The trial court denied De Jonge’s motion for acquittal, and De Jonge was ultimately convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. […]
Read moreThe term “1st Amendment” is the term used to identify Amendment I to the United States Constitution. Also, a part of the Bill of Rights, the 1st Amendment spells out several basic rights granted to U.S. citizens. It guarantees freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to assemble peacefully. To explore this concept, consider the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968) Case Summary of Epperson v. Arkansas: The State of Arkansas passed a law in 1928 that made it a criminal offense to teach evolution in public schools A teacher, Epperson, in the 1965-66 term was told to teach from a new textbook that had a chapter on […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296 (1940) Case Summary of Cantwell v. Connecticut: A man and his two sons, who were all Jehovah’s Witnesses, were going door to door in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood, asking people to hear recordings about their religion. Their preaching offended some listeners. The State charged, and ultimately convicted, them […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Matal v. Tam, 137 S. Ct. 1744 (2017) Case Summary of Matal v. Tam: Simon Tam and his band, “The Slants,” tried to register the band’s name with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The PTO denied the registration, finding that the band name was disparaging to Asians in violation of the Disparagement Clause […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Snyder v. Phelps, 562 U.S. 443 (2011). Case Summary of Snyder v. Phelps: A church leader and several church members traveled to Maryland to picket at a military funeral. The picketers held signs decrying the moral decline of the U.S. and homosexuality in the military. The soldier’s father sued the church and church members because […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Tinker v. Des Moines, United States Supreme Court, (1969) Case summary for Tinker v. Des Moines: Students were suspended for wearing black arm bands in protest of the Vietnam War. Their parents challenged the suspension alleging their childrens’ First Amendment rights were violated. The Court held that absent a specific showing of a constitutionally […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Gitlow v. New York, United States Supreme Court, (1925) Case summary for Gitlow v. New York: Gitlow was arrested after distributing socialist material he published in a newspaper. New York convicted Gitlow under a statute which prohibited advocacy of criminal anarchy. Gitlow challenged his conviction claiming the state statute was unconstitutional under the First […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969). Case Summary of Brandenburg v. Ohio: Brandenburg, a leader of the KKK, was convicted under Ohio’s Criminal Syndicalism statute, which prohibits advocating violence for political reform. The Ohio Supreme Court affirmed his conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed. It found that the Ohio statute punishes mere advocacy […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Morse v. Frederick, United States Supreme Court,(2007) Case summary for Morse v. Frederick: Principal Morse suspended joseph Frederick for holding up a banner at a school event which read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.” Frederick brought suit against Morse, claiming his First Amendment rights had been violated. The district court held that the speech was […]
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