Home > Great American Court Cases > Gravel v. United States

Legal Citation: 408 U.S. 606 (1972)

Petitioner
Frank Gravel, U.S. Senator

Respondent
United States

Petitioner's Claim
That a senator's aide shares the protections guaranteeing the senator freedom of speech and debate.

Chief Lawyers for Petitioner
Robert J. Reinstein and Charles L. Fishman

Chief Lawyer for the Respondent
Erwin N. Griswold, U.S. Solicitor General

Justices for the Court
Harry A. Blackmun (announced the opinion), Warren E. Burger, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, Byron R. White (writing for the Court)

Justices Dissenting
William J. Brennan, Jr., William O. Douglas, Thurgood Marshall, Potter Stewart

Place
Washington, D.C.

Date of Decision
29 June 1972

Decision
That the privileges of the Speech or Debate Clause do extend to...