Ashcroft V Free Speech Coalition Summary

This case is also regularly cited in other Supreme Court cases and is often a deciding factor. It has been used in cases like Konigsberg v. State Bar “That view, which of course cannot be reconciled with the law relating to libel, slander, misrepresentation, obscenity, perjury, false advertising, solicitation of crime, complicity by encouragement, conspiracy, and the like, is said to be compelled by the fact that the commands of the First Amendment are stated in unqualified terms: "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble . . . ." But as Mr. Justice Holmes once said: "[T]he provisions of the Constitution are not mathematical formulas having their essence in their form; they are organic living institutions transplanted from English soil. Their significance is vital not formal; it is to be gathered not simply by taking the words and a dictionary, but by considering their origin and the line of their growth." Gompers v. United States, “However, compare the qualified language of the Second Amendment: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." And see United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174.” Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States

On July 1986, by a majority vote of 7 against 2, the United States Supreme Court delivered a determinant opinion that will put a limitation on the exercise of the freedom of speech at school. In that opinion, Chief Justice Warren Burger set up a new rule opening the door for a legal limitation of the freedom of speech at school. Even though the Supreme Court recognized the validity of the Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community District School’ ruling, however; the justices decided to draw a clear line between the minors and the adults concerning the full exercise of the right of freedom of expression. Simply put, the opinion ruled that the extension of the

Justice Abe Fortas believes certain kinds of speech should not be prohibited within an educational setting .Hugo black argues that one should not demonstrate when he pleases and where he pleases. Justice Abe Fortes argues that certain kinds of speech should not be prohibited within an educational setting. In the story there was plenty of points one is ,” The prohibition of expression of one particular opinion….is not constitutionally permissible.”(Paragraph 8) The next important one talk about the student’s rights and it says,” A students rights, therefore, do not embrace merely classroom hours …….he mat express his opinions, even on controversional subjects…..” The next important quote from the story talks freedom of expression and it says,”In our system undifferented fear or apprehension of disturbance is not enough to overcome the right to freedom of expression.” (Paragraph 4 ) Also he points out the protection of constitutional freedom and he said,” The oigilant protection of constitutional freedoms is nowhere more vital than in the

Randy DeShaney, father of Joshua DeShaney, spent more time beating his four-year-old son than he did in prison. (Reidinger 49) Joshua’s mother, Melody DeShaney, sued the Winnebago County Department of Social Services alleging that they had deprived her son of his Fourteenth Amendment right. In order to understand the DeShaney v. Winnebago County Social Services Supreme Court case one must establish the history, examine the case, and explain the future impacts.

The primary step in First Amendment free speech analysis is to determine whether the statute is conduct based or content neutral, and then apply the proper level of scrutiny.(Burson v. Freeman, 504 USC 191, 197-198). The limitation of sex offenders’ ability to access certain commercial social networking sites is content neutral. There may be certain times that where the government’s regulation has an incidental affect on expression. A regulation that serves purposes unrelated to the content of expression is content neutral, even if it has an incidental effect on some speakers or messages. (Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc., 475 U.S. 41, 47-48 (1986).)

This paper will discuss how censorship denies citizens of the United States our full rights as delineated in the First Amendment. It will outline how and why the first amendment was created and included in the Constitution of the United States of America. This paper will also define censorship, discuss a select few legal cases surrounding freedom of speech and censorship as well as provide national and local examples of censorship.

The first amendment guarantees five basic freedoms to the American citizens. These freedoms are of speech, press, petition, assembly and religion. As all the amendments, the first amendment is intended for use in situations with the government. The first amendment was written by James Madison and was sent to the states to be ratified on September 25, 1789 along with the twelve proposals for the bill of rights.. Then it was officially adopted on December 15, 1791.

Some commonly known examples are the Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) and Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser (1986). Recently in Oregon an eighth grader was suspended for wearing a t-shirt displaying an image of fallen soldiers with the words “Standing for those who stood for us,” However the t-shirt also included images of boots, a helmet, and a gun, school officials claimed this shirt was offensive and told the eighth grader to change his shirt. When he refused he was given an ultimatum: remove the shirt or be suspended.

Prayer in public schools became an issue in 1960. A woman by the name of Madalyn Murray O’Hair sued the Baltimore, Maryland school system, because her son William J Murray was allegedly being forced to participate in prayer at the public school he attended. The American Atheist Organization, alongside Madalyn’s actions consequently led to the Supreme Court ruling in the 1960s. On June 17, 1963, the Supreme Court published its ruling on the case. The Supreme Court ruled that Bible reading and prayer in schools were unconstitutional. Justice Tom C. Clark, who wrote the court ruling, wrote that religious freedom is embedded in our public and private life, and while freedom of worship is indispensable in America, the government must be neutral

When people think of how government works, unless they’ve taken a government class, they usually think of Congress making laws and the President doing pretty much everything else. No one pays much attention to the Supreme Court unless there is a landmark case or something else to grab the news — like the recent death of Justice Antonin Scalia. But the Supreme Court does much more than you’d think regarding keeping the political machine running like a well-oiled … machine. Through not only interpretation of the law, but also judicial activism, the Supreme Court shows it can have as much influence over the laws of the land as either of the other branches of the federal government. In this paper, I will analyze the decision-making methods of the Court using the cases of Gideon v. Wainwright and Betts v. Brady.

In June 21, 1973, Miller was convicted on the ground of advertising the sale of what was considered by the court as adult material. He was found guilty as he broke the California Statute. The California Statute forbids citizens from spreading what is considered offensive in societal standards. The question that was being asked was that if the action of Miller was Constitution thus is protected under the law. However, he lost the case due to a vote of 5 - 4. The court noted that the material that Miller distributed by Miller was not protected under the first Amendment. The court said that the materials Miller distributed were offensive to people, therefore violates the California Statute. (“Miller v. California.")This is a similar argument that is used

The two appellants Griswold and Buxton were both arrested and charged under the Connecticut Comstock Act of 1879. They both violated this act by providing information and medical advice to married persons on means of preventing conception. They were both found guilty of aiding clients and were fined 100 dollars each. The appellants claimed that the Connecticut Comstock Act of 1879 violated the Fourteenth Amendment and couple’s right to privacy.

Justice Antonin Scalia made no apologies for his legal philosophy of “originalism,” despite opposition from other justices and the public. Scalia believed that the United States Constitution should strictly be interpreted in terms of what the founding fathers had meant for it when the Constitution was written. Scalia’s critics contended that the Constitution is a “living document,” therefore, it should allow the courts to take into consideration evolving viewpoints of society.

There comes a time in the criminal justice system where a law that was written to protect us will be challenged through a court case. That case will eventually make history and will become a reference in future cases with similar dilemmas. In 1983, one particular case met the criteria (Arizona vs. Youngblood). In this case, Larry Youngblood was convicted by a jury in Arizona of child molestation, sexual assault, and kidnapping of a ten-year-old boy. Both a criminologist for the State and an expert witness for the defendant testified as to what they believed the results were from the tests that were performed on the samples shortly after they were collected, they also commented on later tests performed on the samples from the boy’s clothing

Censorship in America can vary between the silencing of young voices and the prevention of exposing others of inappropriate material. Many people are afraid of losing their freedom of speech, as first amendment rights should be mandatory for American citizens. Polar to this argument insists the importance of censorship, as it can shield the public from information that can lead to fear or chaos. Leaving students ignorant to world problems, however, is argued by Sonja West that it removes their first amendment rights and creates a future working-class of Americans who are clouded from the truth. West is a law professor at the University of Georgia who is distinguished for her expertise in the first amendment law and minor in journalism. In her article, “Censorship 101,” West crafts her text through numerous court case experience and skill in rhetorical devices as her background expertise is used to her advantage.