List of United States Supreme Court cases involving the First Amendment


This is a list of cases that appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States involving the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The establishment of religion

Blue laws

McGowan v. Maryland Braunfeld v. Brown Gallagher v. Crown Kosher Super Market of Mass., Inc.

Government aid to church-related schools

Cochran v. Louisiana State Board of Education, Everson v. Board of Education, Board of Ed. of Central School Dist. No. 1 v. Allen, Lemon v. Kurtzman, Tilton v. Richardson, Lemon v. Kurtzman II, Levitt v. Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty, Hunt v. McNair, Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty v. Nyquist, Sloan v. Lemon, Wheeler v. Barrera, Public Funds for Public Schools v. Marburger Meek v. Pittenger, Roemer v. Board of Public Works of Maryland, Wolman v. Walter, New York v. Cathedral Academy, Committee for Public Education and Religious Liberty v. Regan, Mueller v. Allen, School Dist. of Grand Rapids v. Ball, Aguilar v. Felton, Witters v. Washington Department of Services for the Blind, Zobrest v. Catalina Foothills School District, Board of Education of Kiryas Joel Village School District v. Grumet, Agostini v. Felton, Mitchell v. Helms, Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, Locke v. Davey, Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue,

Government-sponsored religious displays

Lynch v. Donnelly, Board of Trustees of Scarsdale v. McCreary, County of Allegheny v. American Civil Liberties Union, Van Orden v. Perry, McCreary County v. American Civil Liberties Union, Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, Salazar v. Buono, American Legion v. American Humanist Association,

Legislative prayer

Marsh v. Chambers, Town of Greece v. Galloway,

Internal religious affairs (also involving the Free Exercise Clause)

Watson v. Jones, United States v. Ballard, Kedroff v. St. Nicholas Cathedral of Russian Orthodox Church in North America, Kreshik v. St. Nicholas Cathedral, Presbyterian Church v. Hull Church, Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese for the United States of America & Canada v. Milivojevich, Jones v. Wolf, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan v. Acevedo Feliciano,

Ministerial exception

Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru,

Private religious speech

Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District, Capitol Square Review & Advisory Board v. Pinette, Rosenberger v. University of Virginia, Good News Club v. Milford Central School, Shurtleff v. City of Boston,

Religion in public schools

McCollum v. Board of Education, Zorach v. Clauson, Engel v. Vitale, Abington School District v. Schempp, Epperson v. Arkansas, Stone v. Graham, Wallace v. Jaffree, Edwards v. Aguillard, Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens, Lee v. Weisman, Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District,

Religious institution functioning as a government agency

Larkin v. Grendel's Den, Inc., Board of Education of Kiryas Joel Village School District v. Grumet,

Standing to sue

Flast v. Cohen, Valley Forge Christian College v. Americans United for Separation of Church & State, Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn,

Statutory religious exemptions

Walz v. Tax Commission of the City of New York, Bob Jones University v. United States, Estate of Thornton v. Caldor, Inc., Corporation of Presiding Bishop of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints v. Amos, Texas Monthly, Inc. v. Bullock, City of Boerne v. Flores, Cutter v. Wilkinson,

Unequal government treatment of different religious groups

Larson v. Valente,

Abortion and contraception

Harris v. McRae, Bowen v. Kendrick,

Other

Torcaso v. Watkins McDaniel v. Paty

The free exercise of religion

Exclusion of religion from public benefits

Locke v. Davey, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, Carson v. Makin, Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond,

Polygamy

Reynolds v. United States

Free exercise and eminent domain

Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association

Free exercise and free speech

R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul Good News Club v. Milford Central School Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficente Uniao do Vegetal

Free exercise and public education

Wisconsin v. Yoder Widmar v. Vincent Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens Lamb's Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia Kennedy v. Bremerton School District,

Free exercise and public property

Internal religious affairs (also involving the Establishment Clause)

Watson v. Jones, United States v. Ballard, Kedroff v. St. Nicholas Cathedral of Russian Orthodox Church in North America, Kreshik v. St. Nicholas Cathedral, Presbyterian Church v. Hull Church, Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese for the United States of America & Canada v. Milivojevich, Jones v. Wolf, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan v. Acevedo Feliciano,

Ministerial exception

Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru,

Religion and the right to work

Sherbert v. Verner Trans World Airlines v. Hardison Ohio Civil Rights Commission v. Dayton Christian Schools Corporation of Presiding Bishop of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints v. Amos

Religious tests for public service or benefits

Torcaso v. Watkins McDaniel v. Paty Thomas v. Review Board of the Indiana Employment Security Division Goldman v. Weinberger

Ritual sacrifice of animals

Solicitation by religious groups

Cantwell v. Connecticut Minersville School District v. Gobitis Cox v. New Hampshire Jones v. City of Opelika (I) Marsh v. Alabama Murdock v. Pennsylvania Jones v. City of Opelika (II) West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette Prince v. Massachusetts Heffron v. International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Statutory religious exemptions

Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., Zubik v. Burwell, Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania, Tanzin v. Tanvir,

Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act

Sossamon v. Texas, Holt v. Hobbs, Ramirez v. Collier,

Other

Sause v. Bauer, Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo

Freedom of speech

Campaign finance

Buckley v. Valeo, First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti, California Medical Association v. FEC, Citizens Against Rent Control v. City of Berkeley, FEC v. National Right to Work Committee, FEC v. National Conservative PAC, FEC v. Massachusetts Citizens for Life, Eu v. S.F. Cty. Democratic Cent. Comm., Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. FEC, Nixon v. Shrink Missouri Government PAC, FEC v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee, Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, FEC v. Beaumont, McConnell v. FEC, Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. v. FEC, Randall v. Sorrell, FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc., Davis v. FEC, Citizens United v. FEC, Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett, American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock, McCutcheon v. FEC, Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar, Thompson v. Hebdon, FEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate,

Commercial speech

Valentine v. Chrestensen Rowan v. U.S. Post Office Dept. Pittsburgh Press Co. v. Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations Lehman v. Shaker Heights Bigelow v. Commonwealth of Virginia Virginia State Pharmacy Board v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council Bates v. State Bar of Arizona Linmark Associates, Inc. v. Willingboro Ohralik v. Ohio State Bar Assn. Friedman v. Rogers Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. v. Public Service Commission Consol. Edison Co. v. Public Serv. Comm'n Metromedia, Inc. v. San Diego Hoffman Estates v. The Flipside, Hoffman Estates, Inc. Bolger v. Youngs Drug Products Corp. Edenfield v. Fane 44 Liquormart, Inc. v. Rhode Island Expressions Hair Design v. Schneiderman

[Compelled speech]

Minersville School District v. Gobitis West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo Wooley v. Maynard Agency for International Development v. Alliance for Open Society National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra Agency for International Development v. Alliance for Open Society

Compelled commercial speech

Zauderer v. Office of Disciplinary Counsel of Supreme Court of Ohio Riley v. National Federation of the Blind Ibanez v. Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Board of Accountancy Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, P.A. v. United States

Compelled subsidy for speech of others

Cases that consider the First Amendment implications of payments mandated by the state going to use in part for speech by third partiesAbood v. Detroit Board of Education Communications Workers of America v. Beck Chicago Local Teachers Union v. Hudson Keller v. State Bar of California Lehnert v. Ferris Faculty Ass'n Glickman v. Wileman Brothers & Elliott Inc. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth United States v. United Foods, Inc. Johanns v. Livestock Marketing Association Davenport v. Washington Education Association Locke v. Karass Knox v. Service Employees International Union, Local 1000 Harris v. Quinn Friedrichs v. California Teachers Ass'n

Loyalty oaths and affirmations

American Communications Association v. Douds Garner v. Board of Public Works Adler v. Board of Ed. of City of New York Wieman v. Updegraff Speiser v. Randall Cramp v. Board of Public Instruction Keyishian v. Board of Regents

Content-based

R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul Reed v. Town of Gilbert

Content-neutral

Sedition and imminent danger

Debs v. United States Schenck v. United States Abrams v. United States Gitlow v. New York Whitney v. California Dennis v. United States Communist Party v. Subversive Activities Control Board Yates v. United States

False speech

United States v. Alvarez

Fighting words and the heckler's veto

Cantwell v. Connecticut Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire Terminiello v. Chicago Feiner v. New York National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul Snyder v. Phelps
  • ''Counterman v. Colorado''

Freedom of assembly and public forums

Hague v. CIO Schneider v. New Jersey Martin v. Struthers NAACP v. Alabama Bates v. City of Little Rock Edwards v. South Carolina Cox v. Louisiana Brown v. Louisiana Adderley v. Florida Carroll v. Town of Princess Anne Coates v. Cincinnati Organization for a Better Austin v. Keefe Southeastern Promotions, Ltd. v. Conrad Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins Postal Service v. Council of Greenburgh Civic Assns. Christian Legal Society v. Martinez Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck

Time, place and manner

Cases concerning restrictions on the time, place, and manner of speechChicago Police Dept. v. Mosley Grayned v. City of Rockford Ward v. Rock Against Racism Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network of Western New York Hill v. Colorado McCullen v. Coakley

Government speech

Cases pertaining to whether or not extending protections to speech constitutes government endorsement of speech. Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans Matal v. Tam Iancu v. Brunetti Shurtleff v. City of Boston,

Government-subsidized speech

Cases about restrictions on speech by third parties funded by the government.Rust v. Sullivan

Obscenity

Generally

Cases concerned with the definition of obscenity and whether a particular work or type of material is obscene.Roth v. United States Alberts v. California, One, Inc. v. Olesen, MANual Enterprises v. Day, Jacobellis v. Ohio Memoirs v. Massachusetts, Kois v. Wisconsin Miller v. California Jenkins v. Georgia New York v. Ferber Osborne v. Ohio

As criminal offense

Appeals of criminal convictions for possessing, selling or distributing obscenity that focused on that issueRosen v. United States Butler v. Michigan Smith v. California, Ginzburg v. United States, Mishkin v. New York, Redrup v. New York Ginsberg v. New York Stanley v. Georgia Blount v. Rizzi United States v. Reidel Heller v. New York United States v. Orito Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville

Search, seizure and forfeiture

Cases involving the search and seizure of allegedly obscene materialMarcus v. Search Warrant, Quantity of Books v. Kansas Lee Art Theatre, Inc. v. Virginia United States v. Thirty-seven Photographs United States v. 12 200-ft. Reels of Film Roaden v. Kentucky Lo-Ji Sales, Inc., v. New York Maryland v. Macon
  • ''New York v. P.J. Video, Inc.''

Civil and administrative regulation

Cases dealing with civil and administrative regulatory procedures aimed at suppressing or restricting obscenity, such as film-licensing boards or zoning regulations.Mutual Film Corp. v. Industrial Commission of Ohio Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson Kingsley Books, Inc. v. Brown Kingsley Int'l Pictures Corp. v. Regents of Univ. of N. Y. Times Film Corp. v. Chicago Bantam Books v. Sullivan Freedman v. Maryland Paris Adult Theatre I v. Slaton Young v. American Mini Theatres Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.

Internet

Cases involving laws meant to restrict obscenity onlineReno v. American Civil Liberties Union Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union

Public employees

Pickering v. Board of Education Board of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth Perry v. Sindermann Arnett v. Kennedy Parker v. Levy Madison School District v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission Mt. Healthy City School District Board of Education v. Doyle Givhan v. Western Line Consolidated School District Snepp v. United States Connick v. Myers Rankin v. McPherson Waters v. Churchill United States v. National Treasury Employees Union Board of Commissioners, Wabaunsee County v. Umbehr, San Diego v. Roe Garcetti v. Ceballos Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri Lane v. Franks Heffernan v. City of Paterson Houston Community College System v. Wilson,

Political activity and [Hatch Act of 1939]

Ex parte Curtis United Public Workers v. Mitchell United States Civil Service Commission v. National Association of Letter Carriers Broadrick v. Oklahoma Elrod v. Burns

Public school students

Speech by students in public secondary schoolsTinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District Healy v. James Board of Education v. Pico Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier Morse v. Frederick

Retaliation by public officials

Cases in which it has been alleged governmental officials retaliated for protected speech made by private citizens who are not employed by said officials.Bridges v. California Pennekamp v. Florida Wood v. Georgia Haig v. Agee Gentile v. State Bar of Nevada Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach

Symbolic speech

United States v. O'Brien Cohen v. California Smith v. Goguen Texas v. Johnson United States v. Eichman City of Erie v. Pap's A.M.

Freedom of the press

Broadcast media

Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC CBS v. Democratic National Committee FCC v. League of Women Voters of California FCC v. Pacifica Foundation Turner Broadcasting v. FCC Bartnicki v. Vopper FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. I

Defamation

Beauharnais v. Illinois New York Times Co. v. Sullivan Garrison v. Louisiana Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts St. Amant v. Thompson Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. Time, Inc. v. Firestone Bose Corp. v. Consumers Union of United States, Inc. Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. v. Greenmoss Builders, Inc. McDonald v. Smith Hustler Magazine v. Falwell Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co.

Prior restraints and censorship

Near v. Minnesota Lovell v. City of Griffin Brandenburg v. Ohio New York Times Co. v. United States Nebraska Press Assn. v. Stuart Houchins v. KQED, Inc. Tory v. Cochran

Privacy

Time, Inc. v. Hill Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia Florida Star v. B. J. F.
  • ''Wilson v. Layne''

Search and seizure

Zurcher v. Stanford Daily,

Taxation and privileges

Grosjean v. American Press Co. Branzburg v. Hayes

Freedom of assembly

United States v. Cruikshank, Presser v. Illinois, De Jonge v. Oregon, Thomas v. Collins, National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie,

Freedom of association

Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee v. McGrath Watkins v. United States Sweezy v. New Hampshire NAACP v. Alabama Bates v. City of Little Rock Shelton v. Tucker Gibson v. Florida Legislative Investigation Committee Eastland v. United States Servicemen's Fund Abood v. Detroit Board of Education In re Primus Roberts v. United States Jaycees Rotary International v. Rotary Club of Duarte, 481 U.S. 537 Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Group of Boston Boy Scouts of America v. Dale California Democratic Party v. Jones Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta,

Freedom to petition

United States v. Cruikshank Thomas v. Collins Eastern Railroad Presidents Conference v. Noerr Motor Freight, Inc. NAACP v. Button Edwards v. South Carolina United Mine Workers v. Pennington Cox v. Louisiana California Motor Transport Co. v. Trucking Unlimited Smith v. Arkansas State Highway Employees Feres v United States McDonald v. Smith Meyer v. Grant Buckley v. American Constitutional Law Foundation BE and K Construction Co. V. National Labor Relations Board Doe v. Reed