Supreme Court Ruling Rocks Nation: Texas v. Johnson Decision Sparks Debate on Free Speech On June 21, 1989, the US Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in the case of Texas v. Johnson, a decision that would have far-reaching implications for the First Amendment. The court's 5-4 ruling effectively struck down a Texas law that prohibited the desecration of the American flag, with Justice William Brennan writing the majority opinion. The case centered around Gregory Lee Johnson, a protester who burned the flag during a demonstration in Dallas in 1984, sparking a national debate on the limits of free speech. The ruling marked a significant shift in the court's interpretation of the First Amendment, cementing the idea that even unpopular or provocative speech is protected under the Constitution.
6/21/1989: Texas v. Johnson is decided. The post Today in Supreme Court History: June 21, 1989 appeared first on Reason.com.
