Legal Document

384 U.S. 195 86 Supreme Court Reporter 1407 16 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 469 Steve ASHTON, Petitioner,v.KENTUCKY. Number 619. Argued April 28, 1966. Decided May 16, Ephraim London, New York City, for petitioner. John Browning, Frankfort, Ky., respondent. Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner was sentenced to six months in prison and fined $3,000 printing a pamphlet found be prohibited by common law criminal libel Kentucky. The Kentucky Appeals, with three judges dissenting, affirmed petitioner's conviction. 405 South Western Reporter, 2nd 562. We granted certiorari (382 971, 537, 15 464) reverse. 2 went Hazard, Kentucky, 1963, where bitter labor dispute raged, appeal food, clothing aid unemployed miners. challenged pamphlet, which had limited circulation, stated concerning Sam L. Luttrell, Chief Police Hazard: 3 'Six weeks ago & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions witnessed plot kill one pro-strike city policeman on Hazard Force. Three other cops were after him while he night-duty. It took 5 pickets guarding all night long keep from getting killed, but they could not prevent being fired, ago. Another note City Police: force, Bud has job side an operator's home $100 week. Its against peace officer take private jobs.' 4 said Charles E. Combs, Sheriff: 'The High Sheriff hired 72 deputies at time, more than ever before history; most them because wanted carry guns. He, is also mine operator—in recent decision $5,000 intentionally blinding boy tear-gas beating locked jail cell his hands cuffed. lost sight eye completely nearly blind other. Before trial Combs offered $75,000 it out court, refused. Then few thousand dollars probably bought off jury. case appealed higher court—he wants $200,000. now indicted murder man voluntary manslaughter. Yet still this county support rich will fight strike. same true State Police. They escort scabs into mines hold gunpoint.' 6 And respecting Mrs. W. Pacific KF135 P2 Nolan, co-owner Herald: 7 town newspaper, Herald, hollered that 'the commies have come mountains Kentucky's are leading Herald recipient over $14,000 cash several truckloads food sent as result CBS—TV show just Christmas. story strike supposed care however editor, vehemently labor—she she would rather give incoming merchants Apparently what done, only $1100 money pickets, none clothes. either under lock key, or been given others still.' 8 indictment charged offense libel' committed 'by publishing false malicious publication tends degrade injure' named persons. court 'criminal defined any writing calculated create disturbances peace, corrupt public morals, lead act, which, when indictable.' 9 malice 'an essential element offense' falsity well. 10 Appeals affirming judgment conviction adopted different definition jury court. ruled breach no longer constitutional basis imposing liability. held common-law crime defamatory statement about another false, malice.' 11 indicated Shuttlesworth versus Birmingham, 382 87, 211, 176, accused tried convicted broad construction Act make unconstitutional, cannot sustained limiting eliminates unconstitutional features Act, place Act. think principle applies here. according court's understanding law, 'any * *.' 12 agree dissenters who that: '* since English inconsistent provisions, redefined understandable terms, must made basis, elements so indefinite uncertain should enforced penal Kentucky.' 13 close Cantwell Connecticut, 310 296, 60 900, 84 L.Ed. 1213, involving inciting peace. having played hearing Catholics phonograph record attacking their religion church. In reversing we said: known embraces great variety conduct destroying menacing order tranquility. includes violent acts words likely produce violence others. Here situation analogous statute sweeping general characterization, leaving executive judicial branches too wide discretion its application.' Id., 308, 905. 14 Terminiello Chicago, 337 1, 69 894, 93 1131, ordinance construed punished utterance 'if stirs anger, invites dispute, brings condition unrest, creates disturbance.' 3, 895. set aside conviction, saying: vitality civil political institutions our society depends free discussion. As Hughes wrote De Jonge Oregon, 299 353, 365 (57 255, 260, 81 278), through debate exchange ideas government remains responsive people peaceful change effected. right speak freely promote diversity programs therefore chief distinctions sets us apart totalitarian regimes. 'Accordingly function speech system invite dispute. may indeed best serve high purpose induces dissatisfaction conditions are, even anger. Speech often provocative challenging. prejudices preconceptions profound unsettling effects presses acceptance idea.' 4, 895—896. 17 Convictions 'breach peace' imprecisely similarly reversed Edwards Carolina, 372 229, 236—238, 83 680, 683—684, 697, Cox Louisiana, 379 536, 551—552, 85 453, 462—463, 471. These decisions recognize 'calculated leaves open standard responsibility. involves calculations boiling point particular person group, appraisal nature comments per se. This kind 'makes simply neighbors self-control refrain violence.' Chafee, Free 151 (1954). 18 Here, cases discussed above, deal First Amendment rights. Vague laws area suffer infirmity.1 When rights involved, look closely lest, guise regulating reachable police power, freedom press suffer.2 supra, such 'narrowly drawn evil,' 301 307, S.Ct., 905, 'based concept undefined nature,' id., stand. 19 All infirmities Connecticut present judges. 20 Reversed. 21 HARLAN concurs result. International Harvester company America Commonwealth 234 216, 34 853, 58 1284; Collins 634, 924, 1510; Cohen Grocery Co., 255 81, 41 298, 65 516; Connally General Construction 269 385, 46 126, 70 322; Cline Frink Dairy 274 445, 47 681, 71 1146; Smith Cahoon, 283 553, 51 582, 75 1264; Champlin Refining Corporation Commission Oklahoma, 286 210, 52 559, 76 1062; Lanzetta Jersey, 306 451, 59 618, 888; Wright Georgia, 373 284, 1240, 349; Giaccio Pennsylvania, 399, 518, 447. Cf. Scull Virginia, etc., 359 344, 79 838, 865; Raley Ohio, 360 423, 1257, 1344. Stromberg People California, 359, 532, 1117; Herndon Lowry, 242, 57 732, 1066; Thornhill Alabama, 88, 736, 1093; Winters York, 333 507, 68 665, 92 840; 361 147, 80 215, 205; Cramp Board Public Instruction, 368 278, 82 275, 285; NAACP Button, 371 415, 328, 405; Baggett Bullitt, 377 360, 1316, 377; Dombrowski Pfister, 380 479, 1116, 22.

Classification Label: 2