Crimes against the Public

Crimes against the Public

Title: Edwards v. South Carolina, 372 U.S. 229 (1963)

Facts: 187 petitioners had organized a march to South Carolina and protest there because of segregation in their state. The march was peaceful and did not cause any inconvenience. However, the police asked them to disperse or face arrest. They did not disperse and as a result were convicted for the breach of peace (Edwards v. South Carolina, 372 US 229 - Supreme Court 1963).

Issues: Although this was a peaceful protest, the government saw it as a threat.

Decisions: 8 votes for Edwards and 1 vote against him.

Reasoning: The court held that the rights of the marchers were violated due to the arrests as they were peaceful. There was no evidence to support that the march was violent.

Dissenting opinions: There was a voice that the march could have turned violent and other groups could begin similar marches with different outcomes.

Title: Adderley v. Florida, 385 U.S. 39 (1966)

Facts: Around 200 people gathered at a jail driveway to protest the segregation at the jail. They did not move away when asked to leave the driveway and hence were arrested.

Issues: The petitioners may have been denied the right of speech given to them by the first and fourteenth amendment (Adderley v. Florida, 385 US 39 - Supreme Court 1966).

Decisions: 5 votes for Florida and 4 votes against

Reasoning: The group was asked to leave the place so that the way to the jail would be clear and not to break the protest.

Dissenting opinions: There was a claim that the state does not have the right to control its property for lawful purposes.

Title: U.S. v. Wise, 221 F.3d 140 (5th Cir. 2000)

Facts: John Cain, a civilian brought a case o the FBI regarding the evidence he collected about a group of people planning ...