Connell v. Higginbotham

403 U.S. 207 · Decided June 7, 1971 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Connell v. Higginbotham was decided on June 7, 1971 unanimously (9–0). The Court affirmed the lower court's decision in part and reversed or vacated it in part. The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “Loyalty oath, teachers” in the First Amendment area. SCDB records that the Court declared a state or territorial law, regulation or constitutional provision unconstitutional.

Read the opinion

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — opinion text
• Library of Congress — official U.S. Reports scan

Case details

How the Justices voted

Full case caption

Connell v. Higginbotham et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1970-128, docket 1970-128-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “Loyalty oath, teachers”

• Keyishian v. Board of Regents of the University of the State of New YorkAltered precedentLaw held unconstitutional
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• Slochower v. Board of Higher Education of New York CityLaw held unconstitutional
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Cases on the same legal provision: Fourteenth Amendment (due process)

• Johnson v. Mississippi
  403 U.S. 212Decided June 7, 19719–0Per curiam
• Coates v. City of CincinnatiLaw held unconstitutional
  402 U.S. 611Decided June 1, 19715–4Potter Stewart
• Bell v. BursonLaw held unconstitutional
  402 U.S. 535Decided May 24, 19719–0William J. Brennan Jr.
• Palmer v. City of EuclidLaw held unconstitutional
  402 U.S. 544Decided May 24, 19719–0Per curiam
• McGautha v. California
  402 U.S. 183Decided May 3, 19716–3John M. Harlan II
• Boddie v. ConnecticutLaw held unconstitutional
  401 U.S. 371Decided March 2, 19718–1John M. Harlan II

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

• Blount v. RizziLaw held unconstitutional
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• Baird v. State Bar of Arizona
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• In re Stolar
  401 U.S. 23Decided February 23, 19715–4Hugo L. Black
• Law Students Civil Rights Research Council, Inc. v. Wadmond
  401 U.S. 154Decided February 23, 19715–4Potter Stewart
• United States v. Weller
  401 U.S. 254Decided February 24, 19718–1Potter Stewart
• Monitor Patriot Co. v. Roy
  401 U.S. 265Decided February 24, 19717–2Potter Stewart

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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error