Hague v. Committee for Industrial Organization facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hague v. Committee for Industrial Organization |
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| Argued February 27–28, 1939 Decided June 5, 1939 |
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| Full case name | Frank Hague, Mayor, et al. v. Committee for Industrial Organization, et al. |
| Citations | 307 U.S. 496 (more)
59 S. Ct. 954; 83 L. Ed. 1423; 1939 U.S. LEXIS 1067; 1 Lab. Cas. (CCH) ¶ 17,048; 4 L.R.R.M. 501
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| Prior history | Certiorari to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Certiorari, 306 U.S. 624, to review a decree which modified and affirmed a decree of injunction, 25 F.2d 127, in a suit brought by individuals, unincorporated labor organizations, and a membership corporation, against officials of a municipality to restrain alleged violations of constitutional rights of free speech and of assembly. |
| Holding | |
| The Court held that Hague's ban on political meetings violated the First Amendment right to freedom of assembly, and so the ordinances were void. | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Concurrence | Roberts, joined by Black |
| Concurrence | Stone, joined by Reed |
| Concurrence | Hughes |
| Dissent | McReynolds |
| Dissent | Butler |
| Frankfurter and Douglas took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. amend. I | |
Hague v. Committee for Industrial Organization was an important case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1939. This case is about people's rights to gather and speak freely in public places. It helped define what a "public forum" is and how the First Amendment protects our freedoms.
Contents
What Was This Case About?
This case was about a disagreement between the Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, named Frank Hague, and a group called the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO). The CIO was a large group that worked to improve conditions for workers.
Mayor Hague's Rules
In 1937, Mayor Hague made rules, called ordinances, that stopped the CIO from holding meetings in public parks and streets. He also prevented them from handing out flyers and other information. Mayor Hague believed the CIO was a "communist" group and didn't want them to organize in his city.
The Importance of Public Spaces
During the case, Justice Roberts of the Supreme Court made an important point. He said that public streets and parks have always been places where people can gather. They are used for sharing ideas, talking about important issues, and discussing public questions. These uses have been a part of people's basic rights and freedoms for a very long time.
What the Supreme Court Decided
The CIO believed that Mayor Hague's actions were unfair and against their rights. So, they took him to court.
Lower Courts Rule for CIO
First, lower courts, like the district and circuit courts, looked at the case. They agreed with the CIO. They said that Mayor Hague's rules were wrong.
The Supreme Court's Final Decision
Mayor Hague then asked the Supreme Court to review the case. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. In the end, the Supreme Court also ruled against Mayor Hague.
The Court decided that Mayor Hague's ban on political meetings went against the First Amendment. This amendment protects the right to freedom of assembly, which means people have the right to gather peacefully. Because Mayor Hague's rules violated this right, the Court said his ordinances were void, meaning they were no longer valid or legal.
Why This Case Matters
This case was very important because it helped create the idea of a "public forum." A public forum is a place, like a park or street, where people have a strong right to express themselves. The Hague v. CIO case made it clear that governments cannot easily stop people from gathering and speaking in public places.
It also showed how the 14th Amendment could be used. This amendment helps protect individual rights from actions taken by state and local governments. This case helped make the right to peacefully assemble and speak freely even stronger across the country.
See Also
- US labor law
- History of labor law in the United States
