Legal Document

418 U.S. 405 94 Supreme Court Reporter 2727 41 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 842 Harold Omand SPENCE, Appellant,v.STATE OF WASHINGTON. Number 72—1690. Argued Jan. 9, 1974. Decided June 25, Peter Greenfield, Seattle, Wash., for appellant. James E. Warme, appellee. PER CURIAM. 1 Appellant displayed a flag, which he owned, out of the window his apartment. Affixed to both surfaces flag was large peace symbol fashioned removable tape. convicted under Washington statute forbidding exhibition is attached or superimposed figures, symbols, other extraneous material. The affirmed appellant's conviction. 81 Wash.2d 788, 506 Pacific Reporter, 2nd 293 (1973). It rejected contentions that charged, on its face and as applied, contravened First Amendment, incorporated by Fourteenth void vagueness. We noted probable jurisdiction. 414 815, 61, 38 48 reverse ground applied activity impermissibly infringed protected expression. 2 * On May 10, 1970, appellant, college student, hung from apartment private property in Washington. upside down, front back (i.e., circle enclosing trident) made black above floor. measured approximately three five feet plainly visible passersby. occupied roughly half surface flag. 3 Three Seattle police officers observed entered house. They were met at main door who said: 'I suppose you are here about & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions didn't know there anything wrong with it. will take it down.' permitted enter apartment, where they seized arrested him. cooperated officers. There no disruption altercation. 4 not charged Washington's flag-desecration statute. See Wash.Rev.Code § 9.86.030, amended.1 Rather, State relied so-called 'improper use' statute, Wash Rev.Code 9.86.020. This provides, pertinent part: 5 'No person shall, any manner, display: 6 '(1) Place cause be placed word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing advertisement nature upon standard, color, ensign shield this state . 7 '(2) Expose public view such shall have been printed, painted otherwise produced, attached, appended, affixed annexed ..'2 8 initially tried bench local justice court, found guilty sentenced 90 days' confinement, 60 days suspended. exercised right de novo King County Superior Court, received jury trial. 9 based case itself testimony arresting officers, testified had what identified symbol. took stand own defense. He put protest against invasion Cambodia killings Kent University, events occurred few prior arrest. said purpose associate American instead war violence: 10 felt so much killing America stood for. wanted people thought peace.' 11 further chose fashion tape could removed without damaging effort controvert testimony. 12 trial court instructed essence mere act displaying if proved beyond reasonable doubt, sufficient convict. requirement specific intent do more than display manner. returned verdict guilty. appellant jail, suspended, $75 fine. Appeals reversed Wash.App. 752, 490 1321 (1971). held improper-use overbroad invalid Amendments. With one dissenting two concurring result, reinstated II 13 A number factors important instant case. First, privately owned In technical sense government. doubt National Governments constitutionally may forbid anyone mishandling manner property. But different Second, engaged trespass disorderly conduct. Nor might analyzed terms time, place, restraints access area. Third, record devoid proof risk breach peace. incite violence even stimulate demonstration. evidence crowd gathered attract attention hanging window. Indeed, facts stipulated parties 14 Fourth, concedes, did form communication.3 Although fail show member general viewed State's concession inevitable record. undisputed 'wanted To sure, choose articulate views through printed spoken words. therefore necessary determine whether sufficiently imbued elements communication fall within scope Amendments, versus O'Brien, 391 367, 376, 88 1673, 1678, 20 672 (1968), '(w)e cannot accept an apparently limitless variety conduct can labeled 'speech' whenever engaging intends thereby express idea.' activity, combined factual context environment undertaken, lead conclusion 15 decades has recognized communicative connotations use flags. E.g., Stromberg California, 283 359, 51 532, 75 L.Ed. 1117 (1931). many their uses flags symbolism comprising 'primitive but effective way communicating ideas .,' 'a short cut mind mind.' West Virginia Board Education Barnette, 319 624, 632, 63 1178, 1182, 87 1628 (1943). little communicated symbols. included only also 16 Moreover, used purposes expression important, give meaning Tinker Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 503, 89 733, 21 731 (1969). Tinker, wearing armbands school conveyed unmistakable message contemporaneous issue intense concern—the Vietnam hostilities. Id., 505—514, S.Ct., 735—740. case, simultaneous concededly triggered Cambodian incursion tragedy, issues great moment. Cf. Scheuer Rhodes, 416 232, 1683, 40 (1974). bearing down student today interpreted nothing bizarre behavior, would difficult majority citizens miss drift point time 17 noted, further, mindless nihilism. pointed anguish then-current domestic foreign affairs An convey particularized present, surrounding circumstances likelihood understood those 18 confronted then prosecution idea activity. property, rather over necessity must certain supervisory powers unrelated Procunier Martinez, 396, 1800, 224 (1974); Healy James, 408 169, 92 2338, 33 266 (1972); supra. Accordingly, we examine particular care interests advanced appellee support prosecution. 19 outset something enigma presented us. reliance breach-of-the-peace rationale. Wash.2d, 796 n. 1, P.2d, 299 1. result primarily 'the nation recognizable interest preserving ..'4 Yet counsel declined highest court's principal rationale argument before us.5 pursued theory discarded court. basis constitutionality Despite counsel's approach, think appropriate review briefly range various challenged conviction, arguments us, opinions below, Court's opinion Street New York, 394 576, 590—594, 1354, 1364—1366, 22 572 first prevention our view, correctly notion. totally unable affirm judgment below desired protect sensibilities 'It firmly settled Constitution prohibited merely because themselves offensive some hearers.' supra, 592, 1366. impose captive audience. Anyone offended easily avoided display. Cohen 403 15, 91 1780, 29 284 punished failing proper respect national emblem. U.S., 593, 1366; supra.6 brought, then, thesis unalloyed country. define interest; simply asserted 799, 300. Mr. Justice REHNQUIST's today, see post, 420—422, adopts essentially same approach. Presumably, seen prevent appropriation individual, group, enterprise association product viewpoint taken erroneously governmental endorsement.7 Alternatively, argued uniquely universal character For patriotism, pride history country, service, sacrifice, valor millions Americans joined together build defend Nation self-government personal liberty endure. evidences unity diversity America. others carries varying degrees message. 'A gets puts into it, man's comfort inspiration another's jest scorn.' 632—633, 1182. all draw symbol, capable conveying simultaneously spectrum meanings. If destroyed permanently disfigured, lose capability mirroring sentiments 23 need decide valid.8 assume, arguendo, is. nonetheless unconstitutional activity.9 acts mislead viewers assuming Government endorsed contrary, peacefully10 protesting fact not. desecration nor disfigure destroy country closely analogous always ideas. direct, likely understood, contours Amendment. Given light physical integrity significantly impaired these facts, conviction invalidated.11 24 reversed. 25 ordered. 26 Judgment 27 BLACKMUN concurs result. 28 DOUGLAS, concurring. substantially reasons given Iowa Kool, 212 North Western 518. defendant cardboard wrapped tinfoil home replica behind upside-down position. crime 'cast contempt upon, satirize, deride burlesque (the) flag,' Code 32.1. 30 defendant's constituted 'symbolic speech.' reversing 31 'Someone Newton intemperate disrupt absolute assurance tranquility required, well forget free speech. Under requirement, 'free' speech consist platitudes. That kind does constitutional protection.' N.W.2d, 521. 32 precisely my own. Hence concur Chief BURGER, dissenting. 34 role strike unwise laws restrict application laws, agree reached Court. function, however, should left each ultimately common how unity, protected. 35 REHNQUIST, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE join, 36 holds prohibiting persons attaching material unconstitutionally communication, Amendment prohibits restricting furtherance interests. And believe reaches unsound. 37 '(T)he times circumstances.' Chaplinsky Hampshire, 315 568, 571, 62 766, 769, 86 1031 (1942). long recognized, example, forms entitled protection despite reasonably literal language. Roth States, 354 476, 77 1304, 1498 (1957). subject limitation when countervailing involved. Citizens completely commit perjury, libel citizens, infringe copyrights, riots, interfere unduly passage thoroughfare. speech, though precious, remains accommodation valued Since limitations directly, seem follow fortiori legislate incidental results. Virtually law enacted State, ingenuity, citizen's preferred means argue, presume, painting buildings class protesters believed best medium. Had chosen federal courthouse, prosecuted properly drawn 39 limit least insofar prevents using Expressing willingness valid nevertheless finds insufficient achieve devalues circumstances, noting 'no facts. .' takes pains 'permanently it,' emphasizes 'in ideas.' restates notion secondary messages 'direct, Amendment.' Ante, 415. premise demonstrates total misunderstanding second places position either favoring matter, almost members recently expressed or, alternatively, making available succession political commercial messages. treat order. stranger virtually identical having Halter Nebraska, 205 34, 419, 696 (1907). Nebraska enforce representation beer bottles, stating flatly wanting well-being ignores regard country's power prestige ..' 42, 422. continued: 'Such tends degrade cheapen estimation people, defeat object maintaining emblem honor.' Ibid. irrelevant present pointing decided years involved 'commercial behavior,' presumably consider another day.1 Insofar assesses interest, course, beside point. relates find somewhat grasp. possibly suggesting deserves greater expression, suggestion quite inconsistent Lehman Shaker Heights 298, 2714, 770,2 nearly Members now differently, falls Amendment,' mean auctioned background willing able buy copy one. hard presage 42 Turning question seems me treatment lacks substance. somehow diminishes decorated trivializes trivial. hardly seeking flag's resale value, yet emphasis lack actual damage suggests significant aspect interest. Surely imply subsequently tore process trying off. Unlike statutes, notes seeks abuse. set apart special purpose, directed turned endless condition purpose. 43 true flag,'3 'an nationhood unity.'4 treats studied inattention, recent invention previously accorded considerable Halter, stated: 44 'As evidently origin cultivate feeling patriotism among unwilling adjudge legislation erred duty anyone. rests every legal encourage love Union indissolubly connected.' 43, 45 impairment since certainly difference discussion plaintiff error advertise decorating bottles substance.5 character, cloth, protect. 46 value emphasized distant times. Fortas, u.S. 616, 1378, (1969), personalty,' 'burdened peculiar obligations restrictions.' 617, 1378 (dissenting opinion).6 White '(t)he regulate make, imitate, sell, possess, it.' Smith Goguen, 415 587, 1254 (concurring judgment). agree. What license however pleases, tied concept regardless limited purposes. reasoning convinces requires given. 47 mean, employ conceivable require compel salute punish criticism principles stands, policies demands allegiance. Its operation depend noncommunicative purposes; deemed political; respectful contemptuous; segment citizenry applaud oppose intended message.7 withdraws unique roster materials communications. decision, dissent. provides knowingly cast publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling shield.' 9.86.010 defines symbols statutes follows: 'The words shield, chapter, include copy, picture thereof, substance represented produced thereon, size, purporting state, thereof.' Brief Appellee 3; 800, 300, 301. subsidiary summarily. inhibition freedom 'minuscule trifling' 'thousands (him) dissemination As e.g., Schneider Jersey, 308 147, 163, 146, 151, 84 155 (1939), 'one exercise abridged plea place.' 6; Tr. Oral Arg. 31—32. Counsel conceded promoting legitimate 30. Undoubtedly concern underlies portion utilization representations context. third subparagraph 9.86.020(3), here, aimed directly exploitation occasion address behavior. dissent major 418—420, concluded applies virtue Gitlow 268 652, 625, 69 1138 (1925). valid, note related like undertaken reason supported record, four-step analysis 377, 1679, inapplicable. Because as-applied argument, reach comprehensive overbreadth contention advances. worth sweep Read literally, forbids veteran's group attaching, battalion commendations proscribes photographs heroes standing outlaws newspaper mastheads composed print. Other examples listed. Statutes suggest problems selective enforcement. are, void-for-vagueness argument. statute's mechanical, particularly implemented instructions ones Washington, put, thereof. Thus, enforcement occurred, prosecutorial discretion, language unlike 566, 1242, 605 (1974), ('publicly contemptuously') indefinite prompt subjective authorities. Appellant's turmoil introduction forces deaths University. now, four later, recall vividly depth emotion pervaded most colleges universities widely shared young everywhere. spontaneous outpouring resulted widespread action, rational retrospect. closing schools, disruptions centers education. highly inflamed fairly described gentle restrained compared actions peers. similarity holding 518 (1973), merits note. window, superimposing create effect achieved Spence. Recognizing misuse applied. eschewed analysis, unavailing states footnote: 'There (1907).' 413 7. plurality Blackmun ban advertising buses '(n)o forum found.' Douglas, judgment, stated petition 'constitutional spread audience,' specifically noted: content relevant petitioner's commuters' Commercial advertisements intrusive audiences message.' Brennan, Stewart, Marshall, Powell joined, dissenting, concerning speech' distinction announced Valentine Chrestensen, 316 52, 920, 1262 (1942), retains continuing validity,' referring Douglas' Cammarano 358 498, 514, 79 524, 534, 462 (1959). 'Once established, equal prohibit discrimination solely matter content.' (Emphasis original.) 591, 1256, (1974) (Blackmun, J., dissenting). (White, makes mention allowing endorsement While additional cases, indispensable element 'We add disrespect deplored loss vexed calmer periods history,' 594, 1367, citing Halter. apparent sympathy message, describing anguish,' ante, 410, commenting 'appellant peers.' 415, 10. One hope last observation introduce doctrine 'comparative' gives leeway destructive methods being employed others.

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