Case Categories: Jehovah's Witnesses and Free Speech

• Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940)

  A 1940 Supreme Court landmark decision in Cantwell v. Connecticut affirmed the religious freedom rights of a Jehovah's Witness man to go door-to-door, despite...

• Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942)

  Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942) established that fighting words are not protected by the First Amendment. The Court has since narrowed the fighting words...

• Cox v. New Hampshire (1941)

  Cox v. New Hampshire (1941) upheld Jehovah's Witnesses' conviction for parading without a permit, ruling that their First Amendments rights had not been...

• Fowler v. Rhode Island (1953)

  Fowler v. Rhode Island (1953) said preventing a Jehovah’s Witness from holding a religious service in a public park, but allowing other worship, violated the...

• Jamison v. Texas (1943)

  In Jamison v. Texas, the Court, on First Amendment grounds, overturned the conviction of a Jehovah’s Witness who distributed handbills on the streets...

• Jones v. City of Opelika (1942, 1943)

  The two Jones v. City of Opelika (1942, 1943) cases, dealing with licenses for religious booksellers, raised important First Amendment issues regarding free...

• Largent v. Texas (1943)

  Largent v Texas (1943) said giving a city mayor the power to determine who can distribute pamphlets is censorship and not allowed under the First Amendment...

• Lovell v. City of Griffin (1938)

  Lovell v. City of Griffin (1938) overturned the conviction of a Jehovah's Witness who sold a pamphlet without getting prior permission from the city on First...

• Marsh v. Alabama (1946)

  In Marsh v. Alabama (1946) the Court held that a person distributing religious literature on the sidewalk of a “company town” was protected by the First...

• Martin v. City of Struthers (1943)

  In Martin v. City of Struthers (1943), the Court overturned a ruling that upheld the conviction of a door-to-door religious solicitor in a case focusing on...

• Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940)

  Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940) ruled that states could require public school students to salute the U.S. flag without violating students’ First...

• Murdock v. Pennsylvania (1943)

  Murdock v. Pennsylvania (1943) invalidated a city ordinance that required solicitors to obtain a license. The Court found the law infringed on the First...

• Niemotko v. Maryland (1951)

  Niemotko v. Maryland (1951) found that a conviction for holding a Bible study in a park without a permit was a denial of the First Amendment right to exercise...

• Poulos v. New Hampshire (1953)

  Poulos v. New Hampshire (1953) found a state ordinance that banned holding religious services in public parks without a permit did not violate the First...

• Saia v. New York (1948)

  Saia v. New York (1948) invalidated a sound truck ordinance that allowed the police chief to act as a censor on speech for violating the First Amendment...

• Schneider v. State (1939)

  Schneider v. State (1939) invalidated several city ordinances that restricted the distribution of handbills, ruling that the laws infringed on the First...

• Sicurella v. United States (1955)

  Sicurella v. United States (1955) overturned the conviction of a Jehovah’s Witness who was refused conscientious objector status. The First Amendment protects...

• Taylor v. Mississippi (1943)

  Taylor v. Mississippi (1943) struck down a state law that convicted individuals who spoke against saluting the flag, finding it in violation of the First...

• Tucker v. Texas (1946)

  Tucker v. Texas (1946) ruled that, under the First Amendment, a town manager could not prohibit door-to-door canvassing in a town owned by the national...

• Watchtower Bible and Tract Society v. Village of Stratton (2002)

  Watchtower Bible and Tract Society v. Village of Stratton (2002) said an ordinance making it a misdemeanor to canvass door-to-door without a permit violated the...

• West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)

  West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943) said requiring students to salute the American flag infringed upon First Amendment freedoms of belief...

• Wooley v. Maynard (1977)

  Wooley v. Maynard (1977) found that fining a man who covered up the state motto on his license plate for religious reasons violated the First Amendment...