Cases by Topic Group
Religious Literature Distribution, Sorted by Year, Click here to sort by Case Name.

Case Name	Year	Decision of the Court	Topic Group(s)
Coleman v. City of Griffin 302 U.S. 636 (appeal dismissed for want of substantial federal question)	1937	Upholding conviction of Jehovah's Witness under ordinance requiring prior written permission for literature distribution issued at discretion of city manager.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Lovell v. City of Griffin, 303 U.S. 444	1938	Ordinance prohibiting distribution of literature of any kind is unconstitutional because it abridges freedom of the press.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Schneider v. State of New Jersey, Town of Irvington, 308 U.S. 147	1939	Ordinance making it unlawful to distribute handbills on sidewalks, streets or any other public place is unconstitutional.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Jones v. Opelika [Opelika I], 316 U.S. 584	1942	Jehovah's Witnesses selling tracts are not exempt from regulation of commercial activities.	Religious Literature Distribution
Busey v. Dist. of Columbia, 319 U.S. 579	1943	Conviction of Jehovah’s Witness for unlicensed selling of magazines on public sidewalks is vacated and remanded in light of Jones v. Opelika (1943), and Murdock v. Pennsylvania (1943).	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Douglas v. City of Jeannette,3 19 U.S. 157	1943	Case was not properly in federal court; same ordinance was dealt with in Murdock.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution Tax on Religion
Jamison v. Texas, 318 U.S. 413	1943	Ordinance prohibiting the dissemination of handbills is unconstitutional.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Jones v. Opelika [Opelika II], 319 U.S. 103	1943	On rehearing Opelika I is vacated; state may not prohibit distribution of religious handbills where handbills seek to raise funds in a lawful fashion.	Religious Literature Distribution
Largent v. Texas, 318 U.S. 418	1943	A city ordinance requiring permit to solicit orders for books is unconstitutional as applied to distribution of religious publications.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Martin v. City of Struthers, 319 U.S. 141	1943	Ordinance forbidding door-to-door distribution of handbills, circulars or other advertising matter is unconstitutional.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105	1943	The mere fact that religious literature is sold by itinerant preachers rather than donated does not transform evangelism into a commercial enterprise; tax is unconstitutional.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution Tax on Religion
Follett v. Town of McCormick, 321 U.S. 573	1944	Disallowed flat license tax on minister distributing religious material.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution Tax on Religion
Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158	1944	Statute forbidding boys under 12 and girls under 18 to sell magazines on streets or in public places is not unconstitutional as abridging freedom of religion.	Jehovah's Witnesses Parental Rights Religious Literature Distribution
Marsh v. Alabama, 326 U.S. 501	1946	The more an owner opens property for public use, the more do his rights become circumscribed by First Amendment rights of those who use it.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Tucker v. Texas, 326 U.S. 517	1946	Statute making it an offense to distribute literature in government-owned town invalid.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution
Heffron v. Intn'l Soc. for Krishna Consciousness, Inc., 452 U.S. 640	1981	Prohibiting sale or distribution on fair grounds did not violate First Amendment as applied to members of religious sect.	Religious Literature Distribution
Int'l Soc. for Krishna Consciousness, Inc. v. Lee, 505 U.S. 672	1992	An airport terminal is a non-public forum, therefore a ban on religious handbills and solicitation need only satisfy a reasonableness standard.	Religious Literature Distribution Religious Speech
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. v. Village of Stratton, 536 U.S. 150	2002	*Town's requirement that door-to-door leafleters register with town as applied to the Jehovah's Witnesses' proselytizing violates First Amendment.	Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Literature Distribution

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