Brandenburg v. Ohio

Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) was a landmark Supreme Court case concerning free speech. Clarence Brandenburg, a Ku Klux Klan leader, was convicted under Ohio law for promoting violence. The Supreme Court ruled that speech could only be restricted if it incites "imminent lawless action" and is likely to produce such action. This decision strengthened First Amendment protections, establishing that even inflammatory speech is protected unless it directly leads to immediate violence. The ruling emphasizes the importance of free expression in a democratic society while balancing concerns about public safety.