Document: 384 U.S. 11 86 S.Ct. 1238 16 L.Ed.2d 321 Barbara ELFBRANDT, Petitioner,v.Imogene R. RUSSELL et al. No. 656. Argued Feb. 24, 1966. Decided April 18, W. Edward Morgan, Tucson, Ariz., for petitioner. Philip M. Haggerty, Phoenix, respondents. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This case, which involves questions concerning constitutionality an Arizona Act requiring oath from state employees, has been here before. We vacated judgment Supreme Court had sustained (94 Ariz. 1, 381 P.2d 554) and remanded cause reconsideration in light Baggett v. Bullitt, 377 360, 84 1316, 12 377. See 378 127, 1658, 744. On reinstated original judgment. 97 140, 397 944. The case is on certiorari. 382 810, 116, 15 59. 2 reads conventional fashion as follows:1 3 'I, (type or print name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support Constitution United States laws Arizona; bear true faith allegiance to same, defend them against all enemies whatever, faithfully impartially discharge duties office (name office) according best my ability, so help he God affirm).' Legislature put a gloss oath2 by subjecting prosecution perjury public anyone who took 'knowingly wilfully becomes remains member communist party its successors any subordinate organizations' 'any other organization' having 'one purposes' overthrow government political subdivisions where employee knowledge unlawful purpose. Petitioner, teacher Quaker, decided she could not good conscience take oath, knowing what it meant chance get hearing at precise scope meaning be determined. suit declaratory relief followed. our remand said 'not afflicted' with many uncertainties found potentially punishable supra. 4 'Nor does reach endorsements Communist candidates nor lawyer represents Party, members, journalists rights, members. Such conduct neither act aid attempting force violence. 5 'It conclusion portions considered forbid require terms vague men common intelligence must necessarily guess differ their application.' 147, P.2d, 948. 6 Bernstein, dissent, responded majority failed consider so-called 'membership clause' accompanying statutory gloss: 7 'Let us scientist, one universities. He know whether membership prohibited international scientific organization includes members neutralist nations bloc nations—the latter admittedly dedicated control organization—even though access information available only 8 * 9 'Though might agree principal purpose such scientific, statute makes his crime if government. vice vagueness scientist cannot result violation § 38—231, subd. E honors university encyclopedic acquired field part through membership.' Id., 147—148, 949. 10 recognized Scales States, 367 203, 229, 81 1469, 1486, 782, 'quasi-political parties groups may embrace both legal illegal aims.' noted 'blanket prohibition association group aims' would pose 'a real danger legitimate expression impaired.' we dealt Smith (18 U.S.C. 2385), was suffer this constitutional infirmity because, construed it, reached 'active' (id., 222, 1482) 'specific intent' assisting achieving ends 229—230, 1522). importance limiting construction stand-point emphasized Noto 290, 299—300, 1517, 836, same day: '(I)t should also element (the defendant's 'personal criminal bring about Government violence'), like others, judged strictissimi juris, otherwise there sympathy aims organization, but specifically intending accomplish resort violence, punished adherence lawful constitutionally protected purposes, because unprotected purposes share.'3 Any lingering doubt proscription mere membership, without showing intent,' run afoul set rest decision Aptheker Secretary State, 500, 1659, 992. provided no ordered Subversive Activities Control Board register shall apply use passport. concluded permit narrow reading sort gave 2385 Scales. U.S., 511, n. 9, 1666. statute, read covered accompanied specific intent further held unconstitutional. 13 challenged identical infirmity. One subscribes is, thereafter becomes, violent government, subject immediate penalties. Nothing gloss, statutes given Court, purports exclude subscribe organization's ends. Here supra, 'hazard being prosecuted guiltless behavior' 373, 1323) reality. People often label 'communist' ideas they oppose; make up juries. '(P)rosecutors too are human.' Cramp Public Instruction, 368 278, 287, 82 275, 281, 285. Would safe secure going Pugwash Conference?4 join seminar predominantly therefore those believe violence? Juries convict did wrongful organization. And apparently machinery getting clearance advance.5 14 Those share participate activities surely threat, either citizens employees. Laws restricted action impose, effect, conclusive presumption shares unconstitutionality follows fortiori Speiser Randall, 357 513, 78 1332, 1460, State even place applicant tax exemption burden proving engaged advocacy. threatens cherished freedom First Amendment, made applicable Fourteenth Amendment. supra; Cf. N.A.A.C.P. Alabama ex rel. Patterson, 449, 460 seq., 1163, 1170, 1488; Gibson Florida Legislative Committee, 372 539, 543—546, 83 889, 893, 929. And, committee urged adoption law itself recognized, employees character integrity well forgo calling rather than risk compromise commitment intellectual freedom: 'The trained fraud qualms taking oath; loyal citizen, conscious history's oppressions, wonder medieval rack torture wheel next declines involved negative evidence True Believer.'6 17 A touching rights 'narrowly drawn define punish constituting clear present substantial interest State.' Cantwell Connecticut, 310 296, 311, 60 900, 906, L.Ed. 1213. Legitimate legislative goals 'cannot pursued means broadly stifle fundamental personal liberties when end can more narrowly achieved.' Shelton Tucker, 364 479, 488, 247, 252, 231. see Louisiana Gremillion N.A.A.C.P., 366 293, 296—297, 1333, 1335, 301. As Button, 371 415, 432—433, 328, 338, 405: 18 objectionable quality overbreadth depend upon absence fair notice criminally accused unchanneled delegation powers, tolerating, area Amendment freedoms, existence penal susceptible sweeping improper application. These freedoms delicate vulnerable, supremely precious society. threat sanctions deter exercise almost potently actual application sanctions. *' 19 applies infringes unnecessarily freedoms. It rests doctrine 'guilt association' here. Schneiderman 320 118, 136, 63 1342, 87 1796; Schware Bar Examiners N.M., 353 232, 246, 77 752, 760, 796. stand. 20 Reversed. 21 WHITE, whom CLARK, HARLAN STEWART concur, dissenting. 22 According unequivocal prior holdings entitled condition employment abstaining Party organizations advocating employs them; authorized inquire into affiliations refuse affirm deny them. Gerende Supervisors Elections, 341 56, 71 565, 95 745; Garner Works, 716, 909, 1317; Adler Education, 432 485, 72 380, 96 517; Beilan 399, 1317, 1414; Lerner Casey, 468, 1311, 1423; Nelson County Los Angeles, 362 80 527, 494; Wieman Updegraff, 344 183, 73 215, 216; Slochower 350 551, 76 637, 100 692. mention purport overrule these cases; expressly hold retain, most sensitive positions, lend entails organizations, whose include destruction democratic 23 Under existing law, then free teachers refrain designated bar establish qualifications teach executing prescribed statute. need retain governor's staff, Phoenix police department schools insist holding lending name influence aiming overthrow. 342 517. 24 seem, therefore, Court's aimed provisions expose swears falsely signs later while remaining employment. But membership; obtains falsifying qualifications, sound reason denying power treat false swearing perjury. Alire Cir., 313 F.2d 31; Ogden 303 724.1 By token, since specified valid disqualification, sensibly forbidden person, employee, dedication forceful employer disqualifies him just becoming plus concurrent If disqualify impose penalties applications, likewise within powers move knowingly engages disqualifying acts during remove office, 118i (1964 ed.), Workers America Mitchell, 330 75, 67 556, 91 754, punish, 607 engage certain activities, unsound not, pain penalties, prevent affiliating prepared employ Our kind protection secret proselyting controlled foreign necessary achieve end. Board, 1357, 625.2 25 There nothing 992, dictating clause knew lacked active Act, conviction reversed insufficient evidence. struck down provision passports applied 'whether knows believes associated operating world movement *. sweeps unknowing members.' 510, In event, Scales, deal Party. They suggest Federal elementary precautions forming deliberate conspire destroy means. relied majority, carefully preserved reasons think equally view, errs overbroad lack Party.3 26 Even enforcement officers become Communists overreaches invalidating Whether crime, disclaim, under future abstention membership. invalidate entire action. imposition invalid, limit courts determine severability itself. 1961, c. 108, 8. Ariz.Rev.Stat. 38—231 (1965 Supp.). follows: 'Any officer defined section taken form affirmation section, time subscribing affirmation, term employment, commit commission violence subdivisions, advocates guilty felony thereof perjury; addition, deemed discharged additional compensation emoluments benefits have incident appurtenant employment.' Rowoldt Perfetto, 355 115, 120, 180, 140; Gastelum-Quinones Kennedy, 374 469, 1819, 1013. Conferences, Staff Analysis, Subcommittee Investigate Administration Internal Security Senate Committee Judiciary, Print, 87th Cong., 1st Sess. (1961); Rabinowitch, Pugwash—History Outlook, Bull. Atomic Sci. 243 (1957); Topchiev, Comments Pugwash: From East, 118 (1958); Thirring, West, id., 121; Stowe Statement International Continuing Committee: XIII, 43—45 (December 1964); Documents Second Conference Nuclear Scientists (March 31—April 11, 1958). Petitioner would, course, trial, after event. felt petitioner, tenure, before her teaching position. Elfbrandt Russell, 94 17—18, 554, 565 (Bernstein, C.J., concurring). authoritatively court; indeed, another states minority 566 (separate Jennings, J.). Report Judiciary Support H.B. Journal Senate, Reg.Sess., 25th Arizona, p. 424 (1961). cases uphold 1001 (1964), statements regard matter jurisdiction agency States. Many comparable Statutes, e.g., Cal.Govt.Code §§ 1368, 3108; Mass.Gen.Laws Ann., 264, 14, 15; Okl.Stat.Ann., Tit. 51, 36.5, 36.6. findings Congress, 1950, 50 781 Legislature, Ariz.Laws 2. 744, eliminated vulnerability charge unconstitutionally vague. Although dwell clause, this, seems me, face own terms, unless joined actually revolution purpose, commits crime. 'And indefinite injustice placing trial offense, nature warning, fact punishment done contravene objection untenable.' American Communications Assn. Douds, 339 382, 413, 70 674, 691, 925.

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