Legal Opinion
Thoms v. Smith
District Court, D. Connecticut
Decided November 9, 1971No. Civ. 14246PublishedCited by 28 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
BLUMENFELD, District Judge:
Plaintiff Thoms is opposed to what he deems to be “prevailing American values and/or governmental policies.” He alleges a desire to express that opposition by publicly and peaceably defacing the American flag, or by displaying a distorted image of it. His desire is chilled, however, by Conn.Gen.Stats. § 53-255,1 which makes “misuse of the flag” a criminal offense. By this class action, brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 28 U.S.C. § 1343, Thoms seeks a declaration that the statute is unconstitutional because vague and overly broad. Because…
2Cases cited24 opinions
- Younger v. HarrisSupreme Court of the United States · 1971
- United States v. O'BrienSupreme Court of the United States · 1968
- Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School DistrictSupreme Court of the United States · 1969
- Chaplinsky v. New HampshireSupreme Court of the United States · 1942
- West Virginia State Board of Education v. BarnetteSupreme Court of the United States · 1943
19 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by28 opinions
- Steffel v. ThompsonSupreme Court of the United States · 1974
- Delorme v. StateCourt of Criminal Appeals of Texas · 1973
- Thoms v. HeffernanCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1973
- Valarie Goguen v. Joseph Smith, Sheriff of Worcester CountyCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1972
- Robert Alan Jones, Individually, Etc. v. Henry Wade, Individually, Etc., and Frank Dyson, Individually, Etc.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1973
23 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.