This site is a developmental version of Wiki Law School. To go to the production site: www.wikilawschool.org

Virginia v. Black: Difference between revisions

From wikilawschool.net. Wiki Law School does not provide legal advice. For educational purposes only.
No edit summary
m (Text replacement - "|case_treatment=No " to "")
 
(4 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
|date=April 7, 2003
|date=April 7, 2003
|subject=First Amendment
|subject=First Amendment
|case_treatment=No
|appealed_from=Supreme Court of Virginia
|facts=A Virginia statute made cross-burning a ''prima facie'' evidence of the intent to intimidate with a racial bias.
|facts=A Virginia statute made cross-burning a ''prima facie'' evidence of the intent to intimidate with a racial bias.


Black (a Ku Klux Klan member) burned a cross on private property with the consent of the owner in Virginia.
Black (a Ku Klux Klan member) burned a cross on private property with the consent of the owner in Virginia.
|procedural_history=Black was criminally convicted of intent to intimidate because the jury instruction was that cross-burning itself established the intent to intimidate.
|procedural_history=Black was criminally convicted of intent to intimidate because the jury instruction was that cross-burning itself established the intent to intimidate.
The Supreme Court of Virginia overturned Black's conviction.
|issues=Is cross-burning constitutionally protected under the [[First Amendment]] despite being a KKK practice or is cross-burning a true threat that may be legally restricted?
|issues=Is cross-burning constitutionally protected under the [[First Amendment]] despite being a KKK practice or is cross-burning a true threat that may be legally restricted?
|holding=Cross burning isn't itself evidence of intent to intimidate.
Nevertheless, a state may enact a statute to prohibit cross burning if the act is carried out with the intent to intimidate.
|rule=Cross burning as an exercise of political speech is okay.
Cross burning as a true threat intended to cause physical harm isn't allowed.
|case_text_links={{Infobox Case Brief/Case Text Link
|case_text_links={{Infobox Case Brief/Case Text Link
|link=https://www.quimbee.com/cases/virginia-v-black
|link=https://www.quimbee.com/cases/virginia-v-black
|case_text_source=Quimbee video summary
|source_type=Video summary
|case_text_source=Quimbee
}}
}}
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 03:44, July 14, 2023

Virginia v. Black
Court Supreme Court of the United States
Citation
Date decided April 7, 2003
Appealed from Supreme Court of Virginia

Facts

A Virginia statute made cross-burning a prima facie evidence of the intent to intimidate with a racial bias.

Black (a Ku Klux Klan member) burned a cross on private property with the consent of the owner in Virginia.

Procedural History

Black was criminally convicted of intent to intimidate because the jury instruction was that cross-burning itself established the intent to intimidate.

The Supreme Court of Virginia overturned Black's conviction.

Issues

Is cross-burning constitutionally protected under the First Amendment despite being a KKK practice or is cross-burning a true threat that may be legally restricted?

Holding

Cross burning isn't itself evidence of intent to intimidate.

Nevertheless, a state may enact a statute to prohibit cross burning if the act is carried out with the intent to intimidate.

Rule

Cross burning as an exercise of political speech is okay.

Cross burning as a true threat intended to cause physical harm isn't allowed.

Case Text Links