Punch and Jurists

City of Houston, Texas v. Hill, No. 86-243 (U.S. Supreme Court) (482 U.S. 451; 107 S.Ct. 2502) (June 15, 1987) (Justice Brennan) by Here the court affirmed - but also substantially limited, its "fighting words" doctrine, holding that the First Amendment protects a significant amount of verbal criticism and challenge …

Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, No. 255 (U.S. Supreme Court) (315 U.S. 568; 62 S.Ct. 766) (March 9, 2042) (Justice Murphy) by In this case, the Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of an individual held to have violated a New Hampshire law by addressing the following words to a public official …

Greene v. Barber, No. 01-1247 (6th Cir.) (310 F.3d 889) (November 8, 2002) (Judge David A. Nelson) by More than 60 years ago, the Supreme Court upheld a conviction of an individual who was held to have violated a New Hampshire law by addressing the following words to a city …

Cohen v. California, No. 299 (U.S. Supreme Court) (403 U.S. 15; 91 S.Ct. 1780) (June 7, 1971) (Justice Harlan) by In this case the Court held that "absent a more particularized and compelling reason for its actions, [a] State may not, consistently with the First and Fourteenth Amendments, make the …

Nichols v. Chacon, No. 99-5180 (W.D.Ark.) (110 F.Supp.2d 1099) (August 1, 2000) (Judge H. Franklin Waters) by This rather widely-publicized case is noted for its detailed discussion of the “fighting words” doctrine - under which provocative and challenging speech and gestures - even when directed against the police - are …

Gulliford v. Pierce County, No. 96-35614 (9th Cir.) (136 F.3d 1345) (February 27, 1998) (Judge Betty Binns Fletcher) by Case held that First Amendment protects speech directed at police officers unless it amounts to fighting words.

Gulliford v. Pierce County, No. 96-35614 (9th Cir.) (136 F.3d 1345) (February 27, 1998) (Judge Betty Binns Fletcher) by This civil rights suit for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 is noted because of its discussion of a citizen's First Amendment rights to resist arrest. The appellant in this case …