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First Amendment Supreme Court Cases

Explore Supreme Court opinions, overview essays, academic discussions, and other resources to get the full picture of how the United States’ culture of free speech and First Amendment law has developed over the years. Whether you’re an educator looking for classroom resources, a college student trying to understand your First Amendment freedoms on campus, or generally interested in your rights, our library and ��ݮ��ƵAPP��’s resources are here to help.

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Case Archive

11Cases

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April 16, 1991

LEATHERS, COMMISSIONER OF REVENUES OF ARKANSAS v. MEDLOCK et al.

Whether the First Amendment prevents a state from imposing a sales tax on only selected segments of the media.

June 5, 1989

HERNANDEZ v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE

November 4, 1986

O'CONNOR et ux. v. UNITED STATES

March 29, 1983

MINNEAPOLIS STAR & TRIBUNE CO. v. MINNESOTA COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE

Whether a "use tax" on the cost of paper and ink products consumed in the production of periodic publications violates the guaranted of the freedom of the press in the First Amendment.

October 29, 1974

UNITED STATES v. AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE et al.

June 30, 1958

SPEISER v. RANDALL, ASSESSOR OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Whether a California law requiring a loyalty oath in order to gain a tax exemption violated due process of law.

March 27, 1944

FOLLETT v. TOWN OF MCCORMICK

Whether an ordinance requiring agent selling books to pay license fee of $1 per day or $15 per year is an improper restriction on "freedom of religion" as applied to resident preacher who earned his living by sale of religious books.

May 3, 1943

JONES v. OPELIKA

May 3, 1943

MURDOCK v. PENNSYLVANIA (CITY OF JEANNETTE)

Whether a Pennsylvania ordinance imposing a tax on sale of religious materials violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

May 3, 1943

DOUGLAS et al. v. CITY OF JEANNETTE et al.

Whether a Pennsylvania statue, which prohibits the solicitation of orders for merchandise without first procuring a license from city authorities and paying a license tax, violates the plaintiffs First Amendment rights as Jehovahs witnesses to solicit goods relating to their religion.

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