answersLogoWhite

0

Texas v. Johnson was a First Amendment case in which the Supreme Court overturned a Texas state law that prohibited burning the flag on the grounds that "expressive" political speech (an action that symbolizes an expressed opinion) was protected by the Constitution.

The conflict involved Gregory Johnson's right to engage in an action some members of society found offensive in order to protest President Reagan's War Chest policies during the Republican National Convention in 1984. Some of the onlookers reported feeling offended by the flag desecration, which triggered Johnson's arrest.

The Texas law stated desecration is illegal if "the actor knows it will seriously offend one or more persons," and was punishable by a $2,000 fine and/or one year in prison. The Court held the law was a deliberate attempt at suppressing free speech, and therefore was unconstitutional. Johnson had the right to invoke First Amendment protection because the burning occurred in the context of a political protest.

Case Citation:

Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)

For more information, see Related Questions, below.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Who was the plaintiff in the Texas v Johnson case?

the plaintiff was Texas.


What is the significance of Texas v Johnson?

flag burning was unconstitutional


Who was president during Texas v Johnson?

Ronald Reagan


Where were Roe v. Wade and Texas v. Johnson originally filed?

Roe v. Wade and Texas v. Johnson, two unrelated cases originating in the Dallas, Texas, were filed in different jurisdictions:Roe v. Wade, 410 US 113, (1973) was originally filed in federal court, in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989) was originally filed in Dallas County Criminal Court.


Who was Chief Justice when the Texas v. Johnson decision was handed down?

William Rehnquist


In the case of Texas v. Johnson why was Gregory Johnson only sentenced to one year in jail?

In 1984, Gregory Johnson was arrested and convicted for burning a flag under the Texas Venerated Objects law, fined $2,000, and sentenced to one year in jail. The state statute prohibited intentionally and knowingly desecrating a state or national flag.One year was the maximum sentence allowed for violation of this law.Case Citation:Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)For more information, see Related Questions, below.


Who were the Parties involved in Texas v. Johnson case?

The parties involved in the Texas v. Johnson case were Gregory Lee Johnson, the petitioner who was convicted for burning an American flag, and the State of Texas, the respondent. Johnson argued that his actions were protected under the First Amendment as free speech, while Texas contended that the state had the right to prohibit flag desecration to preserve the flag's symbolic value. The case ultimately reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Johnson.


Which First Amendment case was effected by the decision in Texas v. Johnson?

Texas v. Johnson, (1989) has been cited a number of cases, but you are probably referring specifically to:US v. Eichman, 496 US 310 (1990)For more information, see Related Questions, below.


What law did the US Supreme Court overturn in the Texas v. Johnson case?

In Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989) the US Supreme Court overturned the Texas Venerated Objects Law (Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 42.09(a)(3) [Vernon 1974]), which outlawed intentionally or knowingly desecrating a flag in a way that some observer might find seriously offensive.Case Citation:Texas v. Johnson, 491 US 397 (1989)For more information about Texas v. Johnson, (1989) and other flag desecration cases, see Related Links, below.


Who had original jurisdiction in Texas v. Johnson?

In Texas v. Johnson, the original jurisdiction was held by the Texas trial court, where Gregory Lee Johnson was tried and convicted for desecrating the American flag. The case eventually escalated to the Supreme Court of the United States, which reviewed the decision made by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Johnson's act of flag burning was protected under the First Amendment as free speech.


What was established in the Texas v. Johnson decision?

That burning the flag is allowed as part of free speech.


Engel v Vitale Texas v Johnson and Epperson v Arkansas were all cases decided based on what amendment?

Various Clauses of the First Amendment