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TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2002

The Supreme Court took the following actions yesterday.

Religious Freedom
The Court struck down an Ohio law which forbid door-to-door canvassing without a permit. In an 8-1 ruling, the Justices said the ordinance violates the First Amendment.

The case was brought by the Jehovah's Witnesses, a religious group. But writing for the majority, Justice John Paul Stevens said the ruling applied to political and other non-commercial groups.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist was the lone dissenter.

Get the Story:
Justices Rule Against Solicitation Law (The Washington Post 6/18)
Court Strikes Down Curb on Visits by Jehovah's Witnesses (The New York Times 6/18)
Username: indianz.com, Password: indianz.com

Get the Case Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York v. Village of Stratton No. 00-1737:
Syllabus | Opinion [Stevens] | Concurrence [Breyer] | Concurrence [Scalia] | Dissent [Rehnquist]

Disability Lawsuits
The Court severely limited the right of disabled Americans to collect punitive awards from cities and states.

All members of the Court agreed that two laws do not allow a $12 million damage claim filed by a Missouri man injured while being transported by the police. Three Justices - John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer -- said the ruling's wording went too far.

Get the Story:
Court Rules on Disabilities Law (AP 6/17)

Get the Case Barnes v. Gorman No. 01-682:
Syllabus | Opinion [Scalia] | Concurrence [Souter] | Concurrence [Stevens]

Police Searches
In a 6-3 ruling, the Court upheld the constitutionality of a police search conducted on a bus. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said two men could have refused the request even without being informed of that right by officers.

Justices Souter, Stevens and Ginsburg dissented and said the situation could not be compared to random searches conducted for airline security purposes.

Get the Story:
Police Search Of Bus Upheld (The Washington Post 6/18)

Get the Case U.S. v. Drayton No. 01-631:
Syllabus | Opinion [Kennedy] | Dissent [Souter]