Lovell v. City of Griffin 303 U.S. 444 (1938)

• Author: Richard E. Morgan
• Pages: 1645

Page 1645

A municipal ordinance prohibited the distribution of circulars or any other literature within Griffin without a permit from the city manager. Chief Justice CHARLES EVANS HUGHES, for a unanimous Court, held the Griffin ordinance unconstitutional. The ordinance provided no standards to guide the city manager's decision. To vest an official with absolute discretion to issue or deny a permit was an unconstitutional prior restraint that violated the FIRST AMENDMENT. Because the ordinance was INVALID ON ITS FACE, Lovell was entitled to distribute her literature without seeking a permit, and to challenge the ordinance's...