Home > Great American Court Cases > Lamont v. Postmaster General of the United States

Legal Citation: 381 U.S. 301 (1965)

Appellant
Corliss Lamont

Appellee
John F. Fixa, U.S. Postmaster General

Appellant's Claim
That a federal statute requiring the postmaster to destroy any mail from foreign countries determined to be communist propaganda unless the addressee returns a reply card indicating his desire to receive the mail violated his free speech rights under the First Amendment.

Chief Lawyer for Appellant
Leonard B. Boudin

Chief Lawyer for Appellee
Archibald Cox, U.S. Solicitor General

Justices for the Court
Hugo Lafayette Black, William J. Brennan, Jr., Tom C. Clark, William O. Douglas (writing for the Court), Arthur Goldberg, John Marshall Harlan II, Potter Stewart, Earl Warren

Justices Dissenting
None (Byron R. White did not participate)

Place
Washington, D.C.