Schneider v. Smith

390 U.S. 17 · Decided January 16, 1968 · Supreme Court of the United States

At a glance

Schneider v. Smith was decided on January 16, 1968 unanimously (8–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice William O. Douglas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Internal security legislation” in the First Amendment area.

Read the opinion

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

Case details

How the Justices voted

Did not participate: Thurgood Marshall.

Full case caption

Schneider v. Smith, Commandant, United States Coast Guard

SCDB identifiers: case 1967-059, docket 1967-059-01.

Related decisions

Other cases on “Internal security legislation”

• United States v. RobelLaw held unconstitutional
  389 U.S. 258Decided December 11, 19676–2Earl Warren
• United States v. Laub
  385 U.S. 475Decided January 10, 19679–0Abe Fortas
• Travis v. United States
  385 U.S. 491Decided January 10, 19679–0Abe Fortas
• Dennis v. United States
  384 U.S. 855Decided June 20, 19667–2Abe Fortas
• Bryson v. United States
  396 U.S. 64Decided December 8, 19696–2John M. Harlan II
• Albertson v. Subversive Activities Control BoardLaw held unconstitutional
  382 U.S. 70Decided November 15, 19658–0William J. Brennan Jr.

See all

Cases on the same legal provision: First Amendment (association)

• Degregory v. Attorney General of New Hampshire
  383 U.S. 825Decided April 4, 19666–3William O. Douglas
• Dombrowski v. PfisterLaw held unconstitutional
  380 U.S. 479Decided April 26, 19655–2William J. Brennan Jr.
• Baird v. State Bar of Arizona
  401 U.S. 1Decided February 23, 19715–4Hugo L. Black
• In re Stolar
  401 U.S. 23Decided February 23, 19715–4Hugo L. Black
• United Transportation Union v. State Bar of Michigan
  401 U.S. 576Decided April 5, 19715–3Hugo L. Black
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People v. Alabama ex Rel. Flowers
  377 U.S. 288Decided June 1, 19649–0John M. Harlan II

Same Term, same area (First Amendment)

• Associated Press v. Walker
  389 U.S. 28Decided October 16, 19679–0Per curiam
• Potomac News Co. v. United States
  389 U.S. 47Decided October 23, 19677–1Per curiam
• Conner v. City of Hammond
  389 U.S. 48Decided October 23, 19677–1Per curiam
• Central Magazine Sales, Ltd. v. United States
  389 U.S. 50Decided October 23, 19677–1Per curiam
• Beckley Newspapers Corp. v. Hanks
  389 U.S. 81Decided November 6, 19678–0Per curiam
• Chance v. California
  389 U.S. 89Decided November 6, 19678–1Per curiam

See all

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