upper waypoint

Supreme Court Says First Amendment Protects Lies About Military Medals

Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

Medals belonging to a US Marine commander. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

In other Supreme Court news today, the Supreme Court has struck down the Stolen Valor Act, a federal law making it a crime to lie about having received the Medal of Honor and other prized military awards.

The court voted 6-3 Thursday in favor of Xavier Alvarez, a former local elected official in California who falsely claimed he was a decorated war veteran.

Alvarez had pleaded guilty to violating a 2006 law that was adopted with the nation at war in Afghanistan and Iraq and aimed at people making phony claims of heroism in battle. The court, in a judgment written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ordered that his conviction be thrown out.

Read the complete text of United States v. Alvarez [pdf].

Sponsored

lower waypoint
next waypoint
Small Houses Pose Solution to Housing CrisisGrooblen: 'Egg Freeze'Who Owns the Apartment Next Door? California Agency Says it Will Take Millions to Find OutShould Kids Learn Financial Literacy in School? California Voters May DecideHow The Bay Gets MadeHamas Accepts Ceasefire Deal as Israel Threatens Rafah InvasionCalifornia Housing Is Even Less Affordable Than You Think, UC Berkeley Study SaysTaking the Frida Kahlo Corporation to Court, and the Vietnamese Immigrant Who Helped Sriracha Go MainstreamThese New California Housing Laws Are Going Into Effect in 2024Billionaire-Backed Bid for New Solano County City Is Closer to November Ballot