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Cohen v. California 403 U.S. 15

Cohen v. California 403 U.S. 15

403 U.S. 15 | 1971-06-07

Cohen v. California

403 U.S. 15

Cohen v. California (No. 299)
 
Argued: February 22, 1971
Decided: June 7, 1971

1 Cal.App.3d 94, 81 Cal.Rptr. 503, reversed.

Syllabus

Appellant was convicted of violating that part of Cal.Penal Code § 415 which prohibits "maliciously and willfully disturb[ing] the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or person . . . by . . . offensive conduct," for wearing a jacket bearing the words "Fuck the Draft" in a corridor of the Los Angeles Courthouse. The Court of Appeal held that "offensive conduct" means "behavior which has a tendency to provoke others to acts of violence or to...