Legislative investigations on internal security: Supreme Court decisions

Every U.S. Supreme Court decision from the 1946 through 2025 Terms that the Supreme Court Database classifies under the issue “Legislative investigations on internal security,” part of the First Amendment area.

24decisions

71%favorable to the petitioner

25%unanimous

0altered precedent or struck a law

Decisions by decade

1950s8

1960s15

1970s1

Most majority opinions

Potter Stewart4

William O. Douglas3

Earl Warren3

Charles E. Whittaker2

Warren E. Burger1

Abe Fortas1

Legal provisions most often involved

2 U.S.C. § 1923

First Amendment (association)3

Fifth Amendment (self-incrimination)2

Fifth Amendment (due process)2

Fourteenth Amendment (due process)2

Article I, Section 6, Paragraph 1 (speech or debate clause)1

Fourth Amendment1

Supreme Court Rules1

All 24 decisions, newest first

Eastland v. United States Servicemen's Fund
421 U.S. 491Decided May 27, 19758–1Warren E. Burger
Dombrowski v. Eastland
387 U.S. 82Decided May 15, 19678–0Per curiam
Gojack v. United States
384 U.S. 702Decided June 13, 19669–0Abe Fortas
Degregory v. Attorney General of New Hampshire
383 U.S. 825Decided April 4, 19666–3William O. Douglas
Yellin v. United States
374 U.S. 109Decided June 17, 19635–4Earl Warren
Wheeldin v. Wheeler
373 U.S. 647Decided June 3, 19636–3William O. Douglas
Silber v. United States
370 U.S. 717Decided June 25, 19625–2Per curiam
Hartman v. United States
370 U.S. 724Decided June 25, 19625–2Per curiam
Grumman v. United States
370 U.S. 288Decided June 18, 19625–2Per curiam
Russell v. United States
369 U.S. 749Decided May 21, 19625–2Potter Stewart
Deutch v. United States
367 U.S. 456Decided June 12, 19615–4Potter Stewart
Slagle v. Ohio
366 U.S. 259Decided May 15, 19618–0Charles E. Whittaker
Wilkinson v. United States
365 U.S. 399Decided February 27, 19615–4Potter Stewart
Braden v. United States
365 U.S. 431Decided February 27, 19615–4Potter Stewart
McPhaul v. United States
364 U.S. 372Decided November 14, 19605–4Charles E. Whittaker
Uphaus v. Wyman
364 U.S. 388Decided November 14, 19606–3Per curiam
Raley v. Ohio
360 U.S. 423Decided June 22, 19598–0William J. Brennan Jr.
Uphaus v. Wyman
360 U.S. 72Decided June 8, 19595–4Tom C. Clark
Barenblatt v. United States
360 U.S. 109Decided June 8, 19595–4John M. Harlan II
Scull v. Virginia ex Rel. Committee on Law Reform and Racial Activities
359 U.S. 344Decided May 4, 19599–0Hugo L. Black
Flaxer v. United States
358 U.S. 147Decided December 15, 19589–0William O. Douglas
Sacher v. United States
356 U.S. 576Decided May 19, 19586–2Per curiam
Watkins v. United States
354 U.S. 178Decided June 17, 19576–1Earl Warren
Sweezy v. New Hampshire
354 U.S. 234Decided June 17, 19576–2Earl Warren

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