Watkins+v.+United+States


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Watkins v. United States
1957


 * Petitioner:** John Watkins
 * Respondent:** United States of America
 * Petitioner's Claim:** That convicting someone for not revealing anothers past or current religious beliefs broke the first amendment
 * Cheif Lawyer for Petitioner:** Joseph L. Rauh, Jr.
 * Cheif Lawyer for Respondent:** J. Lee Rankin, U.S. Solicitor General
 * Justices for the Court:** Hugo Lafayette Black, William J. Brennam, Jr., William O. Douglas, Felix Frankfurter, John Marshall Harlan II, Earl Warren
 * Justices Dissenting:** Tom C. Clark (Harold Burton and Charles Evans Whittaker did not participate)
 * Date of Decision:** June 17, 1975
 * Decision:** The supreme court reversed Watkin's conviction. It said Congress went beyond its power by asking Watkins to reval the names of former communists.

John Watkins was convicted by H.U.A.C., a congressional committee made to deal with communism. Watkins was asked to speak before the committee to reveal any communist that he knew of. Watkins refused to answer the question beacuse they broke the first Amendment. After he refused to answer the questions, he was convicted.

Bibliography: Brannen, Daniel. "Watkins V. United States." __Supreme Court Drama__. 1st ed. 4 vols. Back to Civil rights page