Dewey Adamson The State of California That the state prosecutor who drew the jury's attention to Adamson's refusal to testify at his own murder trial violated the Fifth Amendment's ban on self-incrimination. Morris Lavine Walter L. Bowers Harold Burton, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Stanley Forman Reed (writing for the Court), Wiley Blount Rutledge, Fred Moore Vinson Hu…
Two parents of school children, and four teachers New York City Board of Education The Supreme Court should invalidate the Feinberg Law, which declared it illegal for school teachers to "advocate, advise, teach, or embrace" the overthrow of the government by force and violence. Osmond K. Fraenkel Michael A Castaldi Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark, Robert H. Jackson, Sherman Minton (writing for the Cou…
Defendant: Alger Hiss Crime Charged: Perjury Chief Defense Lawyers: Robert M. Benjamin, Claude B. Cross, Chester T. Lane, Edward C. McLean, Robert von Mehren, Victor Rabinowitz, Harold Rosenwald, Harol Shapero, and Lloyd Paul Strykr Chief Prosecutors: Thomas J. Donegan, Myles J. Lane, Thomas F. Murphy, and Clarke S. Ryan Judges: First trial: Samuel J. Kaufman; Second trial: Henry W. Goddard Place:…
American Communications Association, C.I.O. Charles T. Douds, Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board That the requirement of the 1947 Taft-Hartley Labor Management Relations Act that union officials affirm in writing that they are not members of the Communist Party violates their First Amendment Rights. Victor Rabinowitz Philip B. Perlman, U.S. Solicitor General Harold Burton, Fel…
Ashcraft, Ware State of Tennessee That the confessions used to convict the defendants were extorted from them by state law enforcement officers in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. James F. Bickers Nat Tipton Hugo Lafayette Black (writing for the Court), William O. Douglas, Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed, Wiley Blount Rutledge, Harlan Fiske Stone Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Owen …
Plaintiff: Konrad Bercovici Defendant: Charles S. Chaplin Plaintiff Claim: Plagiarism Chief Defense Lawyer: Louis Frohlich Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Louis Nizer Judge: Harold P. Burke Place: New York, New York Dates of Trial: April 17-May 1, 1947 Verdict: None; suit settled for $95,000 payment by Chaplin SIGNIFICANCE: This suit against Charlie Chaplin for plagiarism attracted international atten…
Defendants: Bernard Joseph Lotka, Tillie Michalski Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Lotka: George A. Codding, 0. H. Bengtson; Michalski: Otto J. Frohnmayer Chief Prosecutors: George W. Neilson, Allison Moulton Judge: H. K. Hanna Place: Medford, Oregon Date of Trials: Lotka: May 17-20, 1943 Michalski: May 24-28, 1943 Verdicts: Lotka: guilty of second-degree murder; Michalski: not guilty…
Defendant: William Tatem Tilden 11 Crime Charged: Contributing to the delinquency of a minor Chief Defense Lawyer: Richard Maddox Chief Prosecutor: William Ritzi Judge: A. A. Scott Place: Los Angeles, California Dates of Trials: January 16, 1947; February 10, 1949 Verdicts: Guilty Sentences: One year in jail each time SIGNIFICANCE: Bill Tilden was one of the greatest tennis player who ever lived. …
Roy Bute State of Illinois By not being advised of the right to legal counsel nor being asked if he desired legal counsel, petitioner was denied a fair, impartial trial under the provisions of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Victor Brudney William C. Wines Harold Burton (writing for the Court), Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Stanley Forman Reed, Fred Moore Vinson Hugo La…
Defendant: Caryl Whittier Chessman Crimes Charged: Kidnapping, sexual perversion, and robbery Chief Defense Lawyers: Caryl Chessman and Al Matthews Chief Prosecutor: J. Miller Leavy Judge: Charles W. Fricke Place: Los Angeles, California Dates of Trial: April 4-May 21, 1948 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death SIGNIFICANCE: Caryl Chessman's uniquely documented struggle against capital punishment…
Walter Chaplinsky State of New Hampshire That a state statute prohibiting certain types of public speech violates the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. Hayden C. Covington Frank R. Kenison Hugo Lafayette Black, James Francis Byrnes, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Frank Murphy (writing for the Court), Stanley Forman Reed, Owen Josephus Roberts, Harlan Fiske Stone …
Cox, et al. State of New Hampshire That a state statute prohibiting a parade or procession upon a public street without a special license violated the Fourteenth Amendment by interfering with appellant's First Amendment rights of free speech, press, worship and assembly and by vesting unreasonable and arbitrary power in the licensing authority. Hayden Covington, Joseph F. Rutherford Frank R. Kenis…
Appellants: Benjamin Davis, Eugene Dennis, John Gates, Gil Green, Gus Hall, Irving Potash, Jack Stachel, Robert Thompson, John Williamson, Henry Winston, and Carl Winter Defendant: United States Appellants Claims: That the Smith Act, under which appellants were found guilty, violates the First Amendment and other provisions of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution Chief Defense Lawyers: Phil…
Eugene Dennis, Benjamin Davis, John Gates, Gil Green, Gus Hall, Irving Potash, Jack Stachel, Robert Thompson, John Williamson, Henry Winston, Carl Winter United States That the Smith Act violates the First Amendment and other provisions of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. George W. Crockett, Jr., Abraham J. Isserman, Harry Sacher Philip B. Perlman, Irving S. Shapiro Harold Burton, Feli…
Defendant: Private Eddie D. Slovik Crime Charged: Violation of the 58th Article of War (desertion to avoid hazardous duty) Chief Defense Lawyer: Captain Edward P. Woods Chief Prosecutor: Captain John 1. Green Judges: 1st Lieutenant Bernard Altman, Captain Stanley H. French, Captain Benedict B. Kimmelman, Major Orland F. Leighty, Major Robert D. Montondo, Captain Arthur V. Patterson, Captain Claren…
Defendant: Errol Flynn Crime Charged: Statutory Rape Chief Defense Lawyers: Jerry Geisler and Robert Neeb Chief Prosecutors: Thomas W. Cochran and John Hopkins Judge: Leslie E. Still Place: Los Angeles, California Dates of Trial: January 11-February 6, 1943 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the outcome, the Errol Flynn trial focused national attention on Hollywood's sexual mores, wh…
Appellant and Defendant: Mitsuye Endo Appellant Claim: Entitlement to habeas corpus Chief Lawyer for Plaintiff: Charles Fahey Chief Lawyer for Appellant James C. Purcell Justices: Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone; Justices Hugo L. Black, William 0. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Frank Murphy, Stanley F. Reed, Owen J. Roberts, and Wiley B. Rutledge Place: Washington, D.C. Date of Decis…
Richard Quirin, et al. Albert Cox, Brigadier General, Provost Marshal of the Military District of Washington That the president lacks the power to set up special military tribunals to try war crimes, and that civil courts have the right to review decisions made by these special military courts. Kenneth C. Royall Francis Biddle, U.S. Attorney General Hugo Lafayette Black, James Francis Byrnes, Will…
Defendant: Ezra Pound Crime Charged: Treason Chief Defense Lawyers: Thurman Arnold, Julien Cornell, and Robert W. Furniss, Jr. Chief Prosecutors: Isaiah Matlack, and Oliver Gasch Judge: Bolitha J. Laws Place: Washington, D.C. Date of Trial: February 13, 1946 Verdict: Unsound mind; indictment dismissed in 1958 SIGNIFICANCE: This case involved a unique combination of elements: the charge of treason,…
Irving Feiner State of New York His First Amendment and free speech rights were violated. Sidney H. Greenberg and Emanuel Redfield Dan J. Kelly Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Stanley Forman Reed, Fred Moore Vinson (writing for the Court) Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Sherman Minton Washington, D.C. 15 January 1951 The Court ruled that Feiner's arrest…
Defendant: Gertrude Morris Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyer: Jake Ehrlich Chief Prosecutor: Norman Elkington Judge: Harry J. Neubarth Place: San Francisco, California Date of Trial: January 22-February 11, 1952 Verdict: Guilty: manslaughter Sentence: 1-10 years SIGNIFICANCE: In this extraordinary murder trial, a dynamic defense counsel found himself fighting not just the prosecution but …
Robert Hannegan, U.S. Postmaster General Esquire, Inc. That Esquire, Inc. was not entitled to second class postal delivery, as the material published in the magazine was not contributing to the public good or public welfare. Marvin C. Taylor Bruce Bromley Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, William O. Douglas (writing for the Court), Felix Frankfurter, Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed, Wiley Blo…
Gordon Kiyoshi Hirabayashi United States That following Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Congress unconstitutionally delegated its power to a military commander by authorizing him to impose regulations set out by President Roosevelt's executive orders. And that the regulations set through the order unlawfully discriminated against Japanese Americans in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Frank L…
Defendants: Alvah Bessie, Herbert Biberman, Lester Cole, Edward Dmytryk, Ring Lardner, Jr., John Howard Lawson, Albert Maltz, Sam Ornitz, Robert Adrian Scott, and Dalton Trumbo Crime Charged: Contempt of Congress Chief Defense Lawyers: Bartley Crum, Charles J. Katz, Robert W. Kenny, and Martin Popper Chief Prosecutor: William Hitz Judges: Edward M. Curran, Richmond B. Keech, and David A. Pine Plac…
International Shoe Company State of Washington As a Delaware-based corporation whose factory was located in Missouri, International Shoe was not liable to pay into the state unemployment compensation fund in the state of Washington. Henry C. Lowenhaupt George W. Wilkins, Assistant Attorney General of the State of Washington Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Frank Murphy,…
Joseph Burstyn, Inc. Lewis A. Wilson, New York Commissioner of Education The New York State should not have banned the showing of the film The Miracle on the grounds that the film was "sacrilegious." Ephraim S. London Charles A. Brind, Jr., and Wendell P. Brown, Solicitor General of New York Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark (writing for the Court), William O. Douglas, Felix Frankf…
Toyosaburo Korematsu United States That the military orders which sent Japanese Americans to internment camps during World War II were not justified by military necessity. Wayne M. Collins Charles Fahy, U.S. Solicitor General Hugo Lafayette Black (writing for the Court), William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Stanley Forman Reed, Wiley Blount Rutledge, Harlan Fiske Stone Robert H. Jackson, Frank M…
Grace Marsh State of Alabama That she had the freedom to distribute religious literature of the Jehovah's Witnesses on a "public" street in the company-owned town of Chickasaw, Alabama, despite the privately owned town's refusal to issue her a permit and the Alabama state law supporting property owners' right to ask individuals to leave their property. Hayden C. Covington William M. McQueen, Attor…
Defendants: Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: John H. Minton and Herbert E. Rosenberg Chief Prosecutors: Edward F. Breslin, James W. Gehrig, and Edward Robinson, Jr. Judge: Ferdinand Pecora Place: New York, New York Dates of Trial: June 9-August 18, 1949 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: Death by electrocution SIGNIFICANCE: This notorious "lonely hearts …
George McLaurin Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, et al. That an Oklahoma state law mandating racial segregation in postgraduate education violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Robert L. Carter, Amos T. Hall Fred Hansen Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Sherman Minton, Stanley Forman R…
Irene Morgan Commonwealth of Virginia That forced segregation on buses traveling between states is unconstitutional. William H. Hastie, Thurgood Marshall Abran P. Staples Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed (writing for the Court), Wiley Blount Rutledge Harold Burton (Robert H. Jackson and Harlan Fiske Stone did not participate) Washington…
Defendants: Frank "The Dasher" Abbandando, Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, Louis Capone, Martin "Buggsy" Goldstein, Harry "Happy" Malone, Harry "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss, and Mendy Weiss Crime Charged: Murder Chief Defense Lawyers: Hyman Barshay, James L. Cuff, William Kleinman, David F. Price, Daniel M. Pryor, and Alfred I. Rosner Chi…
Emanuel Pollock H. T. Williams That a Florida law regarding the failure to perform labor after receiving an advance was unconstitutional, under the Thirteenth Amendment. Raymer R. Maguire John C. Wynn Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson (writing for the Court), Frank Murphy, Owen Josephus Roberts, Wiley Blount Rutledge Stanley Forman Reed, Harlan Fiske St…
Railroad Commission of Texas, et al. Pullman Company, et al. That under Texas law it had authority to regulate Pullman sleepers, and that a federal district court erred in preventing enforcement of this regulation. Cecil A. Morgan, Cecil C. Rotsch Ireland Graves Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter (writing for the Court), Charles Evans Hughes, James Clark McReynolds, Frank …
Defendant: Robert W. Grow Crimes Charged: The compromising of classified security information by failing to provide adequate security for the protection of a personal diary Chief Defense Lawyer: Robert E. Joseph Presiding Officer: John S. Dwinell Court: Hubert D. Hoover and seven other court members Place: Washington, D.C. Date of Trial: July 23-29, 1952 Verdict: Guilty on five counts SIGNIFICANCE…
Antonio Richard Rochin State of California That the police violated his Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to not give self-incriminating testimony and his right to due process of law when they induced vomiting to obtain two capsules of morphine, which they used as evidence to convict him. Dolly Lee Butler, A. L. Wirin Howard S. Goldin Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark, William …
Defendant: Ruth Ann Steinhagen Crime Charged: Assault with intent to commit murder Chief Defense Lawyer: George Bieber Chief Prosecutor: John S. Boyle Judge: James J. McDermott Place: Chicago, Illinois Date of Trial: June 30, 1949 Verdict: Not guilty by reason of insanity SIGNIFICANCE: The near-murder of Eddie Waitkus, star first baseman of the Philadelphia Phillies, was one of the first sensation…
Defendant: Sally Rand (Helen Gould Beck) Crime Charged: Indecent exposure, corrupting the morals of an audience, and conducting an obscene show Chief Defense Lawyer: J.W. "Jake" Ehrlich Chief Prosecutor: Frank Brown Judge: Daniel R. Shoemaker Place: San Francisco, California Dates of Trial: November 13-14, 1946 Verdict: Not guilty SIGNIFICANCE: The brief trial of Sally Rand demonstra…
J. D. Shelley Louis Kraemer That restrictive covenants in real estate contracts preventing occupancy by African Americans violates the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee of equal protection of the laws. George L. Vaughn, Herman Willer Gerald L. Seegers Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Frank Murphy, Fred Moore Vinson (writing for the Court) None (Robert H. Jac…
Arthur Skinner State of Oklahoma That a state law authorizing sterilization of selected felons held in the Oklahoma penitentiary violates the Fourteenth Amendment's due process of law guarantee. W. J. Hulsey, H. I. Aston, Guy L. Andrews Mac Q. Williamson, Attorney General of Oklahoma Hugo Lafayette Black, James Francis Byrnes, William O. Douglas (writing for the Court), Felix Frankfurter, Robert H…
Defendants: Manuel Delgado, Henry Leyvas, John Matuz, Jack Melendez, Angel Padilla, Ysmael Parra, Manuel Reyes, Chepe Ruiz, Robert Telles, Victor Thompson, Henry Ynostroza, Gus Zammora et al. Crimes Charged: Murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to commit murder, misdemeanor assault Chief Defense Lawyers: George E. Shibley, et al. Chief Prosecutors: John Barnes, Clyde Shoemaker Judge: C…
Lonnie E. Smith S. S. Allwright, election judge, et al. That rules of the Texas Democratic Party which barred African Americans from participation in primary elections violated his constitutional rights. Thurgood Marshall and William H. Hastie George W. Barcus Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed (writing for the Court), …
Southern Pacific Company State of Arizona That the Arizona Supreme Court erred in its ruling that the state's Train Limit Law was constitutional. Burton Mason Harold N. McLaughlin Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed, Owen Josephus Roberts, Wiley Blount Rutledge, Harlan Fiske Stone (writing for the Court) Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas Washington, D.C. …
Heman Marion Sweatt Theophilis Shickel Painter That the refusal of the University of Texas to admit him to its law school violated his Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection of the laws. W. J. Durham and Thurgood Marshall Price Daniel and Joe R. Greenhill Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Sherman Minton, Stanley For…
Father Arthur Terminiello City of Chicago That the Chicago ordinance against disturbing the peace violated Terminiello's right of free expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Albert W. Dilling L. Louis Karton Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas (writing for the Court), Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed, Wiley Blount Rutledge Harold Burton, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Fred M…
Terry Adams That excluding black voters from the Jaybird Democratic Association's primary elections violated their right to vote based on race and color. J. Edwin Smith Edgar E. Townes, Jr. Hugo Lafayette Black (writing for the Court), Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Stanley Forman Reed, Fred Moore Vinson Sherman Minton Washington, D.C. 4 May …
Roland J. Thomas Collins, Sheriff of Travis County, Texas That Texas law requiring union organizers to obtain a special license was an invalid restriction of the First Amendment right to free speech. Lee Pressman, Ernest Goodman Fagan Dickson Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Frank Murphy, Robert H. Jackson, Wiley Blount Rutledge (writing for the Court) Owen Josephus Roberts, Harlan Fiske …
Defendant: Iva Ikuko Toguri ("Tokyo Rose") Crime Charged: Treason Chief Defense Lawyers: Wayne M. Collins, George Oishausen, and Theodore Tamba Chief Prosecutors: Thomas DeWolfe, Frank J. Hennessy, John Hogan, and James Knapp Judge: Michael J. Roche Place: San Francisco, California Dates of Trial: July 5-September 29, 1949 Verdict: Guilty Sentence: 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fi…
Defendants: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Morton Sobell Crime Charged: Conspiracy to commit wartime espionage Chief Defense Lawyers: Alexander Bloch, Emanuel H. Bloch, Fyke Farmer, John Finerty and Daniel Marshall for the Rosenbergs; Edward Kuntz and Harold Phillips for Sobell Chief Prosecutors: Roy M. Cohn, John Foley, James Kilsheimer Ill, Myles Lane, and Irving H. Saypol Judge: Irving R. Kaufm…
United States Causby, et ux. That overflights by military airplanes above a private farm do not constitute an appropriation of property. Walter J. Cummings, Jr. William E. Comer William O. Douglas (writing for the Court), Felix Frankfurter, Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed, Wiley Blount Rutledge Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton (Robert H. Jackson did not participate, Fred Moore Vinson not yet …
United States Fred W. Darby That the Constitution grants Congress power under the Commerce Clause to regulate workers' hours and wages. Robert H. Jackson, U.S. Attorney General; Francis Biddle, U.S. Solicitor General Archibald B. Lovett Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Charles Evans Hughes, Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed, Owen Josephus Roberts, Harlan Fiske Stone (wr…
West Virginia State Board of Education Walter Barnette That a state law mandating a daily salute of the American flag by public school children does not violate the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom. W. Holt Wooddell Hayden C. Covington Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Robert H. Jackson (writing for the Court), Frank Murphy, Stanley Forman Reed, Owen Josephus Roberts Felix …
Claude R. Wickard, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Roscoe C. Filburn That the practice of producing surplus wheat and keeping it on a farm should be fined by the federal government. Francis Biddle, U.S Attorney General; Charles Fahy, U.S. Solicitor General Webb R. Clark Hugo Lafayette Black, William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson (writing for the Court), Frank Murphy, Stanley Forma…
Julius A. Wolf People of the State of Colorado That evidence, obtained illegally, should not have been used against Wolf at his state trial for a state offense because it violated his constitutional rights. Philip Hornbein James S. Henderson Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, Felix Frankfurter (writing for the Court), Robert H. Jackson, Stanley Forman Reed, Fred Moore Vinson William O. Douglas, …
Tighe E. Woods, Housing Expediter, Office of the Housing Expediter Cloyd W. Miller Co., et al. That the authority of Congress to regulate rents by virtue of the War Power Act had terminated. Philip B. Perlman, Solicitor General of Washington, D.C. Paul S. Knight Hugo Lafayette Black, Harold Burton, William O. Douglas (writing for the Court), Felix Frankfurter, Robert H. Jackson, Frank Murphy, Stan…
Tessim Zorach Andrew G. Clauson, Jr. That New York City's program of "released time" for students to attend religious instruction away from school premises violated the First Amendment mandate of church-state separation. Kenneth W. Greenawalt Michael A. Castaldi Harold Burton, Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas (writing for the Court), Sherman Minton, Stanley Forman Reed, Fred Moore Vinson Hugo Lafa…