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Lovell v. Griffin

U.S.
Mar 28, 1938
303 U.S. 444 (1938)

Summary

holding that the First Amendment's prohibitions also apply to state and local government rule-makers

Summary of this case from Berger v. City of Seattle

Opinion

APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS OF GEORGIA.

No. 391.

Argued February 4, 1938. Decided March 28, 1938.

1. Whether a federal question was properly presented to and decided by a state court is itself a federal question, to be decided by this Court upon appeal. P. 450. 2. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press, which are protected by the First Amendment from infringement by Congress, are among the fundamental personal rights and liberties which are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment from invasion by state action. P. 450. 3. Municipal ordinance adopted under state authority constitute state action within the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment. P. 450. 4. A city ordinance forbidding as a nuisance the distribution, by hand or otherwise, of literature of any kind without first obtaining written permission from the City Manager, violates the Fourteenth Amendment; strikes at the very foundation of the freedom of the press by subjecting it to license and censorship. P. 450. So held as applied to distribution of pamphlets and magazines in the nature of religious tracts. 5. The liberty of the press is not confined to newspapers and periodicals. It embraces pamphlets and leaflets. P. 452. 6. One who is prosecuted for disobeying a license ordinance which is void on its face may contest its validity without having sought a permit under it. P. 452. 55 Ga. App. 609; 191 S.E. 152, reversed.

Appeal from a judgment affirming a sentence imposed for violation of a city ordinance. The Supreme Court of the State denied a review.

Mr. O.R. Moyle for appellant.

Messrs. Hughes Spalding and Sumter M. Kelley submitted on brief for appellee.

This ordinance is a police measure which deals with the practice of distributing circulars, handbooks, advertising and other literature within the city limits. If it be kept in mind that every municipality is faced with a sanitary problem in removing from its streets papers, circulars and other like materials, the reasons for the adoption of such an ordinance become apparent. Clearly there is a permissible field for such a regulation within constitutional limitations. Nothing in the ordinance is aimed at or relates to the right to worship as one may prefer, or the right to speak or write with complete freedom. The fact the appellant may have in her own mind associated her forbidden activities with her religious convictions does not establish any legal or constitutional connection between them. Commonwealth v. Plaisted, 148 Mass. 375; Smith v. People, 51 Colo. 271; State v. Marble, 72 Ohio St. 21; Streitch v. Board of Education, 34 S.D. 169; State v. Big Sheep, 75 Mont. 219; McMasters v. State, 21 Okla. Cr. 318; Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145; State v. Neitzel, 69 Wn. 567; Commonwealth v. Herr, 229 Pa. 132.

Appellant is not a member of the press. The record in this case does not place her in the class of persons who are entitled to invoke the constitutional provisions touching the freedom of the press. Moreover, she was not convicted for anything she was speaking or writing. Neither does the ordinance prohibit her from speaking or writing as her judgment may dictate. The requirement of the ordinance that she is not to distribute printed matter which others have published, without a permit, involves in no way the constitutional right of free speech. Iroquois Transportation Co. v. DeLaney Co., 205 U.S. 354; Lee v. New Jersey, 207 U.S. 67; Fidelity Casualty Co. v. Freeman, 109 F. 847; Missouri, K. T.R. Co. v. Cade, 233 U.S. 642.

The ordinance does restrict the right to distribute circulars, advertising matter and other literature in the city, in the absence of a permit from the City Manager. It is urged that this restraint involves a denial of due process and the equal protection of the law, in that the City Manager is clothed with unqualified discretion in granting or denying the permit. This is scarcely a denial of the equal protection of the law, since it applies in like manner to all persons. A substantial question as to due process might have been involved in the case except for the following essential facts, to-wit:

(a) Appellant failed to raise in any proper manner the issue of due process in the trial court. The Court of Appeals so ruled, and rightly. Coleman v. Griffin, 55 Ga. App. 123; Curtis v. Helen, 171 Ga. 256; Jordan v. State, 172 Ga. 857; Palmer v. Phinizy, 151 Ga. 589; Louisville N. Ry. Co. v. Woodford, 234 U.S. 46.

(b) Appellant did not apply to the City Manager for a permit. She is not in a position of having suffered from the exercise of the arbitrary and unlimited power of which she complains. Had she made application for a permit and had she been denied one without adequate reason, her constitutional rights would have been infringed. She seeks to claim the benefit of the presumption that an application by her for a permit would have been denied. Nothing in the record justifies such an assumption. The fact that the City Manager is clothed with arbitrary power, if it be a fact, affords the appellant no ground of complaint unless and until she has suffered from the exercise of this power. It is submitted that it is proper for the city to provide by ordinance that all persons distributing materials described by the ordinance be required to apply for a permit. If so, no person desiring to engage in this activity can suffer any legal wrong by reason of the ordinance until the application for a permit has been denied. Until the contrary appears from experience, it will be presumed that all persons legally entitled to a permit will be granted one. Had the appellant applied for one and been denied without substantial cause, a question of due process would have arisen. Even then, it would be necessary, in order to get a hearing in this Court, for the appellant to raise this question in the manner required by the accepted rules of practice, and this she has not done.

By leave of Court, briefs of amici curiae were filed by Messrs. Francis Biddle and Osmond K. Fraenkel, on behalf of the American Liberties Union, and by Messrs. Samuel Slaff and George Slaff, on behalf of the Workers' Defense League, in support of appellant.


Appellant, Alma Lovell, was convicted in the Recorder's Court of the City of Griffin, Georgia, of the violation of a city ordinance and was sentenced to imprisonment for fifty days in default of the payment of a fine of fifty dollars. The Superior Court of the county refused sanction of a petition for review; the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court ( 55 Ga. App. 609; 191 S.E. 152); and the Supreme Court of the State denied an application for certiorari. The case comes here on appeal.

The ordinance in question is as follows:

"Section 1. That the practice of distributing, either by hand or otherwise, circulars, handbooks, advertising, or literature of any kind, whether said articles are being delivered free, or whether same are being sold, within the limits of the City of Griffin, without first obtaining written permission from the City Manager of the City of Griffin, such practice shall be deemed a nuisance, and punishable as an offense against the City of Griffin.

"Section 2. The Chief of Police of the City of Griffin and the police force of the City of Griffin are hereby required and directed to suppress the same and to abate any nuisance as is described in the first section of this ordinance."

The violation, which is not denied, consisted of the distribution without the required permission of a pamphlet and magazine in the nature of religious tracts, setting forth the gospel of the "Kingdom of Jehovah." Appellant did not apply for a permit, as she regarded herself as sent "by Jehovah to do His work" and that such an application would have been "an act of disobedience to His commandment."

Upon the trial, with permission of the court, appellant demurred to the charge and moved to dismiss it upon a number of grounds, among which was the contention that the ordinance violated the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States in abridging "the freedom of the press" and prohibiting "the free exercise of petitioner's religion." This contention was thus expressed:

"Because said ordinance is contrary to and in violation of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which reads:

`Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.'

"Said ordinance is also contrary to and in violation of the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which had the effect of making the said first amendment applicable to the States, and which reads:

`All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.'

"Said ordinance absolutely prohibits the distribution of any literature of any kind within the limits of the City of Griffin without the permission of the City Manager and thus abridges the freedom of the press, contrary to the provisions of said quoted amendments.

"Said ordinance also prohibits the free exercise of petitioner's religion and the practice thereof by prohibiting the distribution of literature about petitioner's religion in violation of the terms of said quoted amendments."

The Court of Appeals, overruling these objections, sustained the constitutional validity of the ordinance, saying —

"The ordinance is not unconstitutional because it abridges the freedom of the press or prohibits the distribution of literature about the petitioner's religion, in violation of the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States."

While in a separate paragraph of its opinion the court said that the charge that the ordinance was void because it violated a designated provision of the state or federal constitution without stating wherein there was such a violation, was too indefinite to present a constitutional question, we think that this statement must have referred to other grounds of demurrer and not to the objection above quoted which was sufficiently specific and was definitely ruled upon. The contention as to restraint "upon the free exercise of religion," with respect to the same ordinance, was presented in the case of Coleman v. City of Griffin, 55 Ga. App. 123, and the appeal was dismissed for want of a substantial federal question, 302 U.S. 636. Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 166, 167; Davis v. Beason, 133 U.S. 333, 342, 343. But, in the Coleman case, the Court did not deal with the question of freedom of speech and of the press, as it had not been properly presented. We think that this question was adequately presented and was decided in the instant case. Whether it was so presented and was decided is itself a federal question. Carter v. Texas, 177 U.S. 442, 447; Ward v. Love County, 253 U.S. 17, 22; First National Bank v. Anderson, 269 U.S. 341, 346; Schuylkill Trust Co. v. Pennsylvania, 296 U.S. 113, 121. This Court has jurisdiction.

Freedom of speech and freedom of the press, which are protected by the First Amendment from infringement by Congress, are among the fundamental personal rights and liberties which are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment from invasion by state action. Gitlow v. New York, 268 U.S. 652, 666; Stromberg v. California, 283 U.S. 359, 368; Near v. Minnesota, 283 U.S. 697, 707; Grosjean v. American Press Co., 297 U.S. 233, 244; De Jonge v. Oregon, 299 U.S. 353, 364. See, also, Palko v. Connecticut, 302 U.S. 319. It is also well settled that municipal ordinances adopted under state authority constitute state action and are within the prohibition of the amendment. Raymond v. Chicago Union Traction Co., 207 U.S. 20; Home Telephone Telegraph Co. v. Los Angeles, 227 U.S. 278; Cuyahoga River Power Co. v. Akron, 240 U.S. 462.

The ordinance in its broad sweep prohibits the distribution of "circulars, handbooks, advertising, or literature of any kind." It manifestly applies to pamphlets, magazines and periodicals. The evidence against appellant was that she distributed a certain pamphlet and a magazine called the "Golden Age." Whether in actual administration the ordinance is applied, as apparently it could be, to newspapers does not appear. The City Manager testified that "every one applies to me for a license to distribute literature in this City. None of these people (including defendant) secured a permit from me to distribute literature in the City of Griffin." The ordinance is not limited to "literature" that is obscene or offensive to public morals or that advocates unlawful conduct. There is no suggestion that the pamphlet and magazine distributed in the instant case were of that character. The ordinance embraces "literature" in the widest sense.

The ordinance is comprehensive with respect to the method of distribution. It covers every sort of circulation "either by hand or otherwise." There is thus no restriction in its application with respect to time or place. It is not limited to ways which might be regarded as inconsistent with the maintenance of public order or as involving disorderly conduct, the molestation of the inhabitants, or the misuse or littering of the streets. The ordinance prohibits the distribution of literature of any kind at any time, at any place, and in any manner without a permit from the City Manager.

We think that the ordinance is invalid on its face. Whatever the motive which induced its adoption, its character is such that it strikes at the very foundation of the freedom of the press by subjecting it to license and censorship. The struggle for the freedom of the press was primarily directed against the power of the licensor. It was against that power that John Milton directed his assault by his "Appeal for the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing." And the liberty of the press became initially a right to publish " without a license what formerly could be published only with one." While this freedom from previous restraint upon publication cannot be regarded as exhausting the guaranty of liberty, the prevention of that restraint was a leading purpose in the adoption of the constitutional provision. See Patterson v. Colorado, 205 U.S. 454, 462; Near v. Minnesota, 283 U.S. 697, 713-716; Grosjean v. American Press Co., 297 U.S. 233, 245, 246. Legislation of the type of the ordinance in question would restore the system of license and censorship in its baldest form.

See Wickwar, "The Struggle for the Freedom of the Press," p. 15.

The liberty of the press is not confined to newspapers and periodicals. It necessarily embraces pamphlets and leaflets. These indeed have been historic weapons in the defense of liberty, as the pamphlets of Thomas Paine and others in our own history abundantly attest. The press in its historic connotation comprehends every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of information and opinion. What we have had recent occasion to say with respect to the vital importance of protecting this essential liberty from every sort of infringement need not be repeated. Near v. Minnesota, supra; Grosjean v. American Press Co., supra; De Jonge v. Oregon, supra.

See also, Starr Company v. Brush, 185 A.D. (N.Y.) 261; 172 N.Y.S. 851; Dearborn Publishing Co. v. Fitzgerald, 271 F. 479; In re Campbell, 64 Cal.App. 300; 221 P. 952; Coughlin v. Sullivan, 100 N.J.L. 42; 126 A. 177. Compare People v. Armstrong, 73 Mich. 288; 41 N.W. 275; Chicago v. Schultz, 341 Ill. 208; 173 N.E. 276; People v. Armentrout, 118 Cal.App. Supp. 761; 1 P.2d 556.

The ordinance cannot be saved because it relates to distribution and not to publication. "Liberty of circulating is as essential to that freedom as liberty of publishing; indeed, without the circulation, the publication would be of little value." Ex parte Jackson, 96 U.S. 727, 733. The license tax in Grosjean v. American Press Co., supra, was held invalid because of its direct tendency to restrict circulation.

As the ordinance is void on its face, it was not necessary for appellant to seek a permit under it. She was entitled to contest its validity in answer to the charge against her. Smith v. Cahoon, 283 U.S. 553, 562.

The judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

Reversed.

MR. JUSTICE CARDOZO took no part in the consideration and decision of this case.


Summaries of

Lovell v. Griffin

U.S.
Mar 28, 1938
303 U.S. 444 (1938)

holding that the First Amendment's prohibitions also apply to state and local government rule-makers

Summary of this case from Berger v. City of Seattle

holding unconstitutional an ordinance that prohibited the distribution of pamphlets without a permit

Summary of this case from Civil Rights Corps. v. Pestana

holding that the First Amendment's prohibitions also apply to state and local government rule-makers

Summary of this case from Givens v. Newsom

holding city ordinance regulating the distribution of literature was "invalid on its face"

Summary of this case from Taylor v. St. Louis Cmty. Coll.

holding that the right to circulate literature is as essential to the freedom of the press as the right to publish

Summary of this case from Cosac Found., Inc. v. City of Pembroke Pines

holding that ordinance under review could not be saved because it related to distribution and not to publication since "[l]iberty of circulating is as essential to that freedom as liberty of publishing; indeed, without the circulation, the publication would be of little value."

Summary of this case from Jacobsen v. Department of Transportation

holding an ordinance facially unconstitutional because of its “broad sweep” prohibiting “the distribution of literature of any kind at any time, at any place, and in any manner”

Summary of this case from Vill. of Ruidoso v. Warner

holding that municipal ordinances adopted under state authority constitute state action and are subject to equal protection analysis under United States Constitution

Summary of this case from Dvorak v. City of Bloomington

finding an ordinance requiring written permission from the City Manager prior to distribution of literature to "strike at the very foundation of the freedom of the press by subjecting it to license and censorship"

Summary of this case from McFadden v. City of Bridgeport

finding First Amendment right to distribute religious pamphlets on public sidewalks

Summary of this case from Golden Gateway Center v. Golden Gateway Tenants Ass'n

rejecting licensing scheme for distribution of “pamphlets and leaflets,” “historic weapons in the defense of liberty”

Summary of this case from Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project

rejecting argument that a restriction on distributing pamphlets is allowed because publication still permitted

Summary of this case from Lichtenstein v. Hargett

striking ordinance prohibiting "the distribution of literature of any kind at any time, at any place, and in any manner without a permit"

Summary of this case from Jobe v. City of Catlettsburg

striking ordinance prohibiting "the distribution of literature of any kind at any time, at any place, and in any manner without a permit"

Summary of this case from Norfolk v. Cobo Hall Conference & Exhibition Center

In Lovell v. City of Griffin, 303 U.S. 444 (1938), the Court invalidated an ordinance forbidding the distribution of literature of any kind without the written permission of a city official.

Summary of this case from Hill v. Colorado

In Lovell, for example, appellant was convicted for distributing a religious pamphlet and a magazine called the "Golden Age" without a permit.

Summary of this case from Riley v. National Federation of Blind

In Lovell, since no attempt was made to tailor the licensing requirement to a substantive evil unrelated to the suppression of ideas, the statute created an unacceptable risk that it would be used to suppress.

Summary of this case from City Council v. Taxpayers for Vincent

In Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444 (1938), the Court held invalid an ordinance that prohibited the distribution of "literature of any kind... without first obtaining written permission from the City Manager," id., at 447.

Summary of this case from Hynes v. Mayor of Oradell

In Griffin, a noncapital case, we held that the petitioner's constitutional rights were violated by the State's procedure, which provided free transcripts for indigent defendants only in capital cases.

Summary of this case from Gideon v. Wainwright

In Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444, the Court invalidated an ordinance prohibiting all distribution of literature at any time or place in Griffin, Georgia, without a license, pointing out that so broad an interference was unnecessary to accomplish legitimate municipal aims.

Summary of this case from Shelton v. Tucker

In Griffin, the ordinance completely prohibited the unlicensed distribution of any handbills. As I read it, the ordinance here merely prohibits the distribution of a handbill which does not carry the identification of the name of the person who "printed, wrote, compiled... manufactured [or]... caused" the distribution of it. There could well be a compelling reason for such a requirement.

Summary of this case from Talley v. California

In Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444, we held void on its face an ordinance that comprehensively forbade any distribution of literature at any time or place in Griffin, Georgia, without a license.

Summary of this case from Talley v. California

In Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444, an ordinance requiring a permit to distribute pamphlets was held invalid where the licensing standard was "not limited to ways which might be regarded as inconsistent with the maintenance of public order or as involving disorderly conduct, the molestation of the inhabitants, or the misuse or littering of the streets."

Summary of this case from Niemotko v. Maryland

In Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444, the requirement of permission from the city manager invalidated the ordinance, pp. 447 and 451; in Schneider v. State, that of a police officer, pp. 157 and 163.

Summary of this case from Jones v. Opelika

In Lovell v. Griffin, 303 U.S. 444, we held invalid a statute which placed the grant of a license within the discretion of the licensing authority.

Summary of this case from Jones v. Opelika
Case details for

Lovell v. Griffin

Case Details

Full title:LOVELL v . CITY OF GRIFFIN

Court:U.S.

Date published: Mar 28, 1938

Citations

303 U.S. 444 (1938)
58 S. Ct. 666

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