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Gitlow v. New York Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: The Supreme Court upheld Benjamin Gitlow’s conviction under a New York criminal anarchy law for publishing a manifesto advocating government overthrow, finding the statute constitutional and incorporating free speech protections to states.
Legal Significance: Landmark for incorporating First Amendment free speech protections against state action via the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, though applying a less speech-protective “dangerous tendency” test for legislatively proscribed speech.
Gitlow v. New York Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
Benjamin Gitlow, a member of the Left Wing Section of the Socialist Party, was convicted under New York’s Criminal Anarchy Act of 1902. The charges stemmed from his involvement in publishing and distributing a document titled “The Left Wing Manifesto” in “The Revolutionary Age,” a paper he managed. The Manifesto advocated for the overthrow of organized parliamentary government through mass industrial revolts, political mass strikes, and revolutionary mass action, aiming to establish a “revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.” Gitlow arranged for the printing and distribution of 16,000 copies. He admitted responsibility for the Manifesto’s publication and circulation. The New York statute criminalized advocating, advising, or teaching the doctrine that organized government should be overthrown by force, violence, or any unlawful means. Gitlow contended that the statute, as applied, violated his liberty of expression under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, particularly as there was no evidence of any concrete harm or imminent danger resulting from the Manifesto’s publication. The New York courts affirmed his conviction.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does a state statute prohibiting advocacy of the overthrow of government by force or unlawful means, as applied to the publication of a manifesto, violate the freedom of speech protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Affirmed. The New York criminal anarchy statute, which prohibits advocating the overthrow Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pa
IRAC Legal Analysis
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IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Does a state statute prohibiting advocacy of the overthrow of government by force or unlawful means, as applied to the publication of a manifesto, violate the freedom of speech protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Conclusion
This case is foundational for incorporating First Amendment free speech rights to Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure do
Legal Rule
The freedom of speech and press, protected by the First Amendment from Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
Legal Analysis
The Court, for the first time, explicitly assumed that freedom of speech Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullam
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- The First Amendment’s free speech and press clauses are “fundamental personal