Today in Supreme Court History: February 24

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (decided February 24, 1969): being in school does not restrict student’s First Amendment rights (students were told to remove black armbands as protest against Vietnam War); that year I was the only student in my conservative public school displaying a peace symbol (I drew it in big markers on my loose-leaf) so this decision meant a lot to me

Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (decided February 24, 1988): First Amendment prohibits Jerry Falwell as a “public figure” from bringing intentional infliction of emotional distress claim against Hustler for “parody” of his life, absent “actual malice” (knowledge of falsity, which you can never prove if it’s a parody) (this case was grossly misrepresented in the movie “People v. Larry Flynt”, and at the time provoked criticism even from noted feminists, who realized that they could be next; Hustler was a disgusting, vile magazine, and though I confess to guilty giggles from the “Chester the Molester” cartoons, its “parody” of Falwell, besides not being funny, was disgusting, vile, and juvenile)

Unicolors, Inc. v. H & M Hennes & Mauritz, LP, 595 U.S. 178 (decided February 24, 2022): inaccurate understanding of law does not invalidate copyright (plaintiff, designer of fabric, had submitted one application covering 31 designs when it should have submitted 31) and conduct fell within Copyright Act’s safe-harbor provision, 17 U.S.C. §411(b)(1)(A); restores verdict in copyright infringement suit

United States v. Hayes, 555 U.S. 415 (decided February 24, 2004): 1996 Gun Control Act prohibited possession by those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence; applies here to man convicted of battery on his then-wife even though charge for which he pleaded guilty was generic battery

Doe v. Chao, 540 U.S. 614 (decided February 24, 2004): can’t get award in Privacy Act suit if no showing of actual damages (vacating award of $1,000 to plaintiff whose Social Security Number supplied when applying for Black Lung benefits was then printed by Department of Labor in group public hearing notice)