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LOVELL v. GRIFFIN Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A city ordinance required a permit to distribute any literature. The Supreme Court struck it down, holding that requiring a license to distribute pamphlets is an unconstitutional prior restraint on the freedom of the press, making the law void on its face.
Legal Significance: This landmark case established that ordinances requiring a license for the distribution of literature are an unconstitutional prior restraint on the press. It affirmed that freedom of the press extends to pamphlets and leaflets and protects circulation as much as publication.
LOVELL v. GRIFFIN Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
The City of Griffin, Georgia, enacted an ordinance making it a nuisance to distribute “circulars, handbooks, advertising, or literature of any kind” without first obtaining written permission from the City Manager. The ordinance provided no standards to guide the City Manager’s discretion in granting or denying a permit. Alma Lovell, a Jehovah’s Witness, distributed a religious pamphlet and magazine without applying for or receiving a permit. She believed that applying for a permit would be an act of disobedience to God. Lovell was convicted and sentenced to 50 days in jail or a $50 fine. She challenged her conviction, arguing that the ordinance violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments by abridging her freedom of the press and free exercise of religion. The Georgia state courts upheld the conviction and the constitutionality of the ordinance. Lovell appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which granted review on the freedom of the press question.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does a municipal ordinance that prohibits the distribution of literature of any kind without first obtaining permission from a city official constitute an unconstitutional prior restraint on the freedom of the press in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments?
Yes. The ordinance is invalid on its face because it imposes a 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
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 municipal ordinance that prohibits the distribution of literature of any kind without first obtaining permission from a city official constitute an unconstitutional prior restraint on the freedom of the press in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments?
Conclusion
This case established a foundational First Amendment principle that government may not Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veni
Legal Rule
A municipal ordinance that subjects the freedom of the press to the 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 e
Legal Analysis
The Court's analysis centered on the doctrine of prior restraint. Chief Justice 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
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A city ordinance requiring a permit to distribute any kind of