October Term 2002 · Docket 01-1107
Does a law banning cross-burning to threaten harm violate free speech?
Virginia argues its law targets only threatening acts. Black argues the law targets a specific symbol.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Virginia claims the statute protects freedom from fear. It bans only cross-burning used to threaten harm. It does not ban all cross-burning. It avoids playing favorites unlike prior cases.
Black claims targeting a specific symbol violates the First Amendment. It engages in content and viewpoint discrimination. The state should use content-neutral alternatives. Courts should err on the side of speech freedom.
Virginia argues cross-burning is a particularly threatening form of conduct. The state singled it out with intent to intimidate. This distinguishes it from general speech protections.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Virginia seeks to uphold its cross-burning statute. Black seeks to strike it down as unconstitutional.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 5-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 11, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
What each side wants
Virginia wants the Court to uphold its cross-burning statute.
Black wants the Court to strike down the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 5-23
What each side says
Virginia argues the law targets only threats of bodily harm.
Black argues the law discriminates against a specific symbol.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 5-23
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked about brandishing an automatic weapon in someone's face.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of speech laws targeting specific symbols. It balances freedom from fear against free expression. The outcome shapes how states regulate threatening conduct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 5-23
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 5-23
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.