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Texas v. Johnson was a First Amendment case in which the Supreme Court overturned a Texas state law that prohibited burning the flag on the grounds that "expressive" political speech (an action that symbolizes an expressed opinion) was protected by the Constitution.
The conflict involved Gregory Johnson's right to engage in an action some members of society found offensive in order to protest President Reagan's War Chest policies during the Republican National Convention in 1984. Some of the onlookers reported feeling offended by the flag desecration, which triggered Johnson's arrest.
The Texas law stated desecration is illegal if "the actor knows it will seriously offend one or more persons," and was punishable by a $2,000 fine and/or one year in prison. The Court held the law was a deliberate attempt at suppressing free speech, and therefore was unconstitutional. Johnson had the right to invoke First Amendment protection because the burning occurred in the context of a political protest.
Case Citation:
Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)
For more information, see Related Questions, below.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoTexas v. Johnson was one of a series of flag desecration cases challenging state and federal statutes prohibiting burning or otherwise damaging a flag, as a violation of First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and political expression.
Case Citation:
Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)
For more information, see Related questions, below.
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What was Thurgood Marshalls opinion in Texas v. Johnson?
Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)Justice Thurgood Marshall voted with the majority that Johnson's right to burn the flag during a peaceful protest was protected under the First Amendment as expressive speech, overturning the Texas Venerable Objects Law under which Johnson had been convicted. Marshall did not have a published opinion or make a public statement about the case, however. He signed the opinion of the Court, authored by Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.For JohnsonJustice William J. Brennan, Jr. (opinion of the Court)Justice Thurgood MarshallJustice Harry BlackmunJustice Antonin ScaliaJustice Anthony Kennedy (wrote a concurring opinion)For TexasChief Justice William J. Rehnquist (wrote a dissent)Justice Byron WhiteJustice Sandra Day O'ConnorJustice John Paul Stevens (wrote a dissent)
Which Supreme Court ruling said that the Fourteenth Amendment protected members of all racial groups not just blacks and whites?
Texas v. Hernandez
What do amendments to the US Constitution allow Americans to do?
It allows us to have freedom of speech and religion. Thanks to the case Texas v. Johnson we can also burn our American Flag with no consequences because it is part of our First amendment rights.
What was the most recent case in the privacy line?
Lawrence v. Texas
What case has severely weakened affirmative action programs?
Hopwwod v. Texas
Who was the plaintiff in the Texas v Johnson case?
the plaintiff was Texas.
What is the significance of Texas v Johnson?
flag burning was unconstitutional
Who was president during Texas v Johnson?
Ronald Reagan
Where were Roe v. Wade and Texas v. Johnson originally filed?
Roe v. Wade and Texas v. Johnson, two unrelated cases originating in the Dallas, Texas, were filed in different jurisdictions:Roe v. Wade, 410 US 113, (1973) was originally filed in federal court, in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989) was originally filed in Dallas County Criminal Court.
Who was Chief Justice when the Texas v. Johnson decision was handed down?
William Rehnquist
Which First Amendment case was effected by the decision in Texas v. Johnson?
Texas v. Johnson, (1989) has been cited a number of cases, but you are probably referring specifically to:US v. Eichman, 496 US 310 (1990)For more information, see Related Questions, below.
In the case of Texas v. Johnson why was Gregory Johnson only sentenced to one year in jail?
In 1984, Gregory Johnson was arrested and convicted for burning a flag under the Texas Venerated Objects law, fined $2,000, and sentenced to one year in jail. The state statute prohibited intentionally and knowingly desecrating a state or national flag.One year was the maximum sentence allowed for violation of this law.Case Citation:Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)For more information, see Related Questions, below.
What law did the US Supreme Court overturn in the Texas v. Johnson case?
In Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989) the US Supreme Court overturned the Texas Venerated Objects Law (Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 42.09(a)(3) [Vernon 1974]), which outlawed intentionally or knowingly desecrating a flag in a way that some observer might find seriously offensive.Case Citation:Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)For more information about Texas v. Johnson, (1989) and other flag desecration cases, see Related Links, below.
What was established in the Texas v. Johnson decision?
That burning the flag is allowed as part of free speech.
Examples of symbolic speech?
The burning of the flag is a symbolic speech such as in the Texas v. Johnson case.
Engel v Vitale Texas v Johnson and Epperson v Arkansas were all cases decided based on what amendment?
Various Clauses of the First Amendment
How long was the case Texas v Johnson in litigation?
Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989) was in litigation for five years, gradually moving from municipal court to the US Supreme Court. Johnson was arrested in August 1984 and the US Supreme Court affirmed the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' (Texas high court for criminal cases) reversal in June 1989, just a bit less than five years later.1984 Convicted: Dallas County Criminal Court, fined $2,000 and sentenced to 1 year in jail1986 Affirmed: The Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas, Dallas 706 S.W.2d 120 (1986)1988 Reversed: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed, 755 S.W.2d 92 (1988)1989 Affirmed: Supreme Court of the United States.
