United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Valentine v. Chrestensen, 316 U.S. 52 (1942)

Valentine v. Chrestensen

No. 707

Argued March 31, 1942

Decided April 13, 1942

316 U.S. 52

Syllabus

1. A municipal ordinance forbidding distribution in the streets of printed handbills bearing commercial advertising matter, held constitutional. P. 316 U. S. 54.

2. A constitutional right to distribute in the streets handbills of printed commercial advertising matter, contrary to a municipal ordinance, cannot be acquired by adding to the handbills matter of possible public interest which, by itself, might be privileged but which is added with the purpose of evading the prohibition of the ordinance with respect to the advertising matter. P. 316 U. S. 55.

122 F.2d 511, reversed.

CERTIORARI, 314 U.S. 604, to review a decree which affirmed a decree, 34 F.Supp. 596, permanently enjoining the Police Commissioner of the City of New York from interfering with distribution of respondent's handbills.