Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/303/444/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 10:56:02+00:00

Document:
1. Whether a federal question was properly presented to and decided by a state court is itself a federal question, to be decided by this Court upon appeal. P. 303 U. S. 450.
2. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press, which are protected by the First Amendment from infringement by Congress, are among the fundamental personal rights and liberties which are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment from invasion by state action. P. 303 U. S. 450.
3. Municipal ordinances adopted under state authority constitute state action within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment. P. 303 U. S. 450.
4. A city ordinance forbidding as a nuisance the distribution, by hand or otherwise, of literature of any kind without first obtaining written permission from the City Manager violates the Fourteenth Amendment; strikes at the very foundation of the freedom of the press by subjecting it to license and censorship. P. 303 U. S. 450.
So held as applied to distribution of pamphlets and magazines in the nature of religious tracts.
5. The liberty of the press is not confined to newspapers and periodicals. It embraces pamphlets and leaflets. P. 303 U. S. 452.
6. One who is prosecuted for disobeying a license ordinance which is void on its face may contest its validity without having sought a permit under it. P. 303 U. S. 452.
55 Ga.App. 609, 191 S.E. 152, reversed.
Appeal from a judgment affirming a sentence imposed for violation of a city ordinance. The Supreme Court of the State denied a review.
Appellant, Alma Lovell, was convicted in the Recorder's Court of the City of Griffin, Georgia, of the violation of a city ordinance and was sentenced to imprisonment for fifty days in default of the payment of a fine of fifty dollars. The Superior Court of the county refused sanction of a petition for review; the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court (55 Ga.App. 609, 191 S.E. 152), and the Supreme Court of the State denied an application for certiorari. The case comes here on appeal.
"Section 1. That the practice of distributing, either by hand or otherwise, circulars, handbooks, advertising, or literature of any kind, whether said articles are being delivered free, or whether same are being sold, within the limits of the City of Griffin, without first obtaining written permission from the City Manager of the City of Griffin, such practice shall be deemed a nuisance, and punishable as an offense against the City of Griffin."
any nuisance as is described in the first section of this ordinance."
The violation, which is not denied, consisted of the distribution without the required permission of a pamphlet and magazine in the nature of religious tracts, setting forth the gospel of the "Kingdom of Jehovah." Appellant did not apply for a permit, as she regarded herself as sent "by Jehovah to do His work," and that such an application would have been "an act of disobedience to His commandment."
"Because said ordinance is contrary to and in violation of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which reads:"
" Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
"Said ordinance is also contrary to and in violation of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which had the effect of making the said first amendment applicable to the States, and which reads:"
States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
"Said ordinance absolutely prohibits the distribution of any literature of any kind within the limits of the City of Griffin without the permission of the City Manager, and thus abridges the freedom of the press, contrary to the provisions of said quoted amendments."
"Said ordinance also prohibits the free exercise of petitioner's religion and the practice thereof by prohibiting the distribution of literature about petitioner's religion in violation of the terms of said quoted amendments."
"The ordinance is not unconstitutional because it abridges the freedom of the press or prohibits the distribution of literature about the petitioner's religion, in violation of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States."
v. Beason, 133 U. S. 333, 133 U. S. 342, 133 U. S. 343. But, in the Coleman case, the Court did not deal with the question of freedom of speech and of the press, as it had not been properly presented. We think that this question was adequately presented, and was decided in the instant case. Whether it was so presented and was decided is itself a federal question. Carter v. Texas, 177 U. S. 442, 177 U. S. 447; Ward v. Love County, 253 U. S. 17, 253 U. S. 22; First National Bank v. Anderson, 269 U. S. 341, 269 U. S. 346; Schuylkill Trust Co. v. Pennsylvania, 296 U. S. 113, 296 U. S. 121. This Court has jurisdiction.
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press, which are protected by the First Amendment from infringement by Congress, are among the fundamental personal rights and liberties which are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment from invasion by state action. Gitlow v. New York, 268 U. S. 652, 268 U. S. 666; Stromberg v. California, 283 U. S. 359, 283 U. S. 368; Near v. Minnesota, 283 U. S. 697, 283 U. S. 707; Grosjean v. American Press Co., 297 U. S. 233, 297 U. S. 244; De Jonge v. Oregon, 299 U. S. 353, 299 U. S. 364. See also Palko v. Connecticut, 302 U. S. 319. It is also well settled that municipal ordinances adopted under state authority constitute state action, and are within the prohibition of the amendment. Raymond v. Chicago Union Traction Co., 207 U. S. 20; Home Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Los Angeles, 227 U. S. 278; Cuyahoga River Power Co. v. Akron, 240 U. S. 462.
license to distribute literature in this City. None of these people (including defendant) secured a permit from me to distribute literature in the City of Griffin."
The ordinance is not limited to "literature" that is obscene or offensive to public morals or that advocates unlawful conduct. There is no suggestion that the pamphlet and magazine distributed in the instant case were of that character. The ordinance embraces "literature" in the widest sense.
The ordinance is comprehensive with respect to the method of distribution. It covers every sort of circulation "either by hand or otherwise." There is thus no restriction in its application with respect to time or place. It is not limited to ways which might be regarded as inconsistent with the maintenance of public order or as involving disorderly conduct, the molestation of the inhabitants, or the misuse or littering of the streets. The ordinance prohibits the distribution of literature of any kind at any time, at any place, and in any manner without a permit from the City Manager.
constitutional provision. See Patterson v. Colorado, 205 U. S. 454, 205 U. S. 462; Near v. Minnesota, 283 U. S. 697, 283 U. S. 713-716; Grosjean v. American Press Co., 297 U. S. 233, 297 U. S. 245, 297 U. S. 246. Legislation of the type of the ordinance in question would restore the system of license and censorship in its baldest form.
The ordinance cannot be saved because it relates to distribution, and not to publication.
"Liberty of circulating is as essential to that freedom as liberty of publishing; indeed, without the circulation, the publication would be of little value."
Ex parte Jackson, 96 U. S. 727, 96 U. S. 733. The license tax in Grosjean v. American Press Co., supra, was held invalid because of its direct tendency to restrict circulation.
entitled to contest it validity in answer to the charge against her. Smith v. Cahoon, 283 U. S. 553, 283 U. S. 562.
See Wickwar, "The Struggle for the Freedom of the Press," p. 15.
See also Starr Company v. Brush, 185 App.Div. (N.Y.) 261, 172 N.Y.S. 851; Dearborn Publishing Co. v. Fitzgerald, 271 Fed. 479; In re Campbell, 4 Cal.App. 300, 221 Pac. 952; Coughlin v. Sullivan, 100 N.J.L. 42, 126 Atl. 177. Compare People v. Armstrong, 73 Mich. 288, 41 N.W. 275; Chicago v. Schultz, 341 Ill. 208, 173 N.E. 276; People v. Armentrout, 118 Cal.App.Supp. 761, 1 P.2d 556.

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