Legal Issues

Articles on Legal Issues for Activist, featured Legal support, contacts and information providers.

Dissent Landmark Cases

National Student Association v. Hershey (1969)

Protected rights of anti-war protesters and successfully challenged the punitive

induction of anti-war students into the armed services.

Stamler v. Willis (1970)

Challenged the constitutionality of the House Un-American Activities Committee and

allowed those served with HUAC subpoenas to challenge them.

Grand Jury Cases (1971)

Defended the rights of witnesses against grand jury abuse; protected the confidentiality of attorney-client conversations (In re: Kinoy) and defended a congressional

aide from being jailed for contempt in the “Pentagon Papers Grand Jury” case

(In re: Rodberg).

Wright v. Montgomery (1971)

CCR attorneys defended numerous participants and organized legal support for

marchers who were arrested and harassed in connection with the historic Selma-toMontgomery March in 1965.

U.S. v. U.S. District Court (Keith) (1972)

Won a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidating warrantless “national

security” wiretapping against domestic activists.

U.S. v. Banks and Means (1974)

Represented leaders in the American Indian Movement charged with conspiracy and

assault in a standoff with the FBI at Wounded Knee.

U.S. v. Dellinger (1972)

Defended members of the “Chicago 8” and won reversal of the conviction on appeal.

Clavir v. U.S. (1979)

Filed suit on behalf of political activists against the FBI for illegal surveillance and

surreptitious break-ins of their home.

CISPES v. FBI (1985)

Revealed massive spying on the El Salvador solidarity movement.

U.S. v. Maria del Scorro Pardo de Aguilar (1985)

Defended Sanctuary Movement workers who protected El Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugees from government prosecution.

Kinoy v. Mitchell (1986)

Uncovered a huge campaign of warrantless wiretapping involving Arthur Kinoy’s and

CCR’s representation of “controversial” causes.

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Won Supreme Court decision defending freedom of expression in flag burning case.

Reno v. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (1999)

Challenged selective enforcement of immigration laws in defense of Palestinian

activists singled out for deportation because of their political beliefs.

In the Matters of Hamide and Shehadeh (2007)

Ended 20-year-long deportation proceedings against members of the “LA8”,

political activists who were lawfully engaged in protected First Amendment advocacy

on behalf of Palestinians.