Doe v. McMillan

Petitioner

John Doe

Respondent

John L. McMillan

Petitioner's Claim

That U.S. Representatives, their staffs, and Government Printing Office officials should all be held liable for the distribution of a report defaming Washington, D.C. school children.

Chief Lawyers for Petitioner

Fred M. Vinson, William C. Cramer, David P. Sutton

Chief Lawyer for Respondent

Michael Valder

Justices for the Court

William J. Brennan, Jr., William O. Douglas, Thurgood Marshall, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Potter Stewart, Byron R. White (writing for the Court)

Justices Dissenting

Harry A. Blackmun, Warren E. Burger, William H. Rehnquist

Place

Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision

29 May 1973

Decision

The House members and their staff retain absolute immunity for their actions, but Government Printing Office officials do not.

Related Cases

• Tenney v. Brandhove, 341 U.S. 367 (1951).
• Barr v. Matteo, 360 U.S. 564 (1959).
• Gravel v. United States, 408 U.S. 606 (1972).

Sources

West's Encyclopedia of American Law St. Paul, MN: West Group, 1998.

Further Readings

• Biskupic, Joan, and Elder Witt, eds. Congressional Quarterly's Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court, 3rd ed. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1996.
• A Reference Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court. New York, NY: Sachem Publishing Associates, Inc., 1986.