1. Home
  2. Browse Decisions
  3. U.S.
  4. 532 U.S.
  5. 532 U.S. 514 (2001)
 

BARTNICKI v. VOPPER

No. 99-1687.

532 U.S. 514 (2001)

BARTNICKI et al. v. VOPPER, aka WILLIAMS, et al.

United States Supreme Court.

Decided May 21, 2001.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Jeremiah A. Collins argued the cause for petitioners in No. 99-1687. With him on the briefs were Raymond P. Wendolowski and Scott C. Gartley.

Solicitor General Waxman argued the cause for the United States in No. 99-1728. With him on the briefs were Assistant Attorney General Ogden, Deputy Solicitor General Dreeben, Jeffrey A. Lamken, and Douglas N. Letter.

Lee Levine argued the cause for respondents Vopper et al. With him on the brief was Jay Ward Brown. Thomas C. Goldstein argued the cause for respondent Yokum. With him on the brief were Erik S. Jaffe and Frank J. Aritz.*

Stevens, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which O'Connor, Kennedy, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which O'Connor, J., joined, p. 535. Rehnquist, C. J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Scalia and Thomas, JJ., joined, p. 541.

Justice Stevens, delivered the opinion of the Court.

These cases raise an important question concerning what degree of protection, if any, the First Amendment provides to speech that discloses the contents of an illegally intercepted communication. That question is both novel and narrow. Despite the fact that federal law has prohibited such disclosures since 1934,1 this is the first time that we have confronted such an issue.

The...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases