No. 23-1351

Torrey Lynne Henderson, Amara Jana Ridge, and Justin Royce Thompson v. Texas

Lower Court: Texas
Docketed: 2024-06-27
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (2)Response Waived
Tags: criminal-conviction first-amendment fourteenth-amendment free-speech obstruction-of-passageway obstruction-statute peaceful-assembly peaceful-protest public-forum public-sidewalks
Key Terms:
FirstAmendment DueProcess
Latest Conference: 2024-09-30
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Do the First and Fourteenth Amendments prohibit the government from convicting individuals for obstructing a passageway based solely on their participation in a peaceful march on public sidewalks and streets, without evidence that the defendants themselves knowingly or intentionally obstructed any passageway or directed, authorized, ratified, or intended that others do so?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED Petitioners assembled with others in a brief, peaceful march along a historic Texas street. The march took place primarily on the sidewalk, but when necessary to change direction or in response to water narrowing their path, the marchers at times stepped onto the street. During the brief march, an unidentified cyclist, who was not shown to have any connection to Petitioners, slowed traffic for 20-90 seconds. There is no evidence that Petitioners themselves obstructed traffic or directed or intended that anyone else do so. Petitioners were nonetheless convicted under a state statute that bars obstructing a passageway, and the court below affirmed their convictions based on the actions of unnamed others and “the crowd.” The question presented is: Do the First and Fourteenth Amendments prohibit the government from convicting individuals for obstructing a passageway based solely on their participation in a peaceful march on public sidewalks and_ streets, without evidence that the defendants themselves knowingly or intentionally obstructed any passageway or directed, authorized, ratified, or intended that others do so? i

Docket Entries

2024-10-07
Petition DENIED.
2024-07-29
Brief amici curiae of The Texas State Conference of the N.A.A.C.P. and Faith Commons filed. (Distributed)
2024-07-24
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/30/2024.
2024-07-24
Amicus brief of The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression submitted.
2024-07-24
Brief amicus curiae of The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed. (Distributed)
2024-07-16
Application (23A1169) referred to the Court.
2024-07-16
Waiver of right of respondent Texas to respond filed.
2024-07-16
Application (23A1169) for stay presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is denied.
2024-07-12
Reply of applicant Torrey Lynne Henderson, et al. filed.
2024-07-09
Response to application from respondent Texas filed.
2024-07-02
Response to application (23A1169) requested by Justice Alito, due by 4 p.m. (EDT), on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
2024-06-25
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 29, 2024)
2024-06-25
Application (23A1169) for a stay, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Texas
Lanora Christine PettitOffice of the Texas Attorney General, Respondent
Lanora Christine PettitOffice of the Texas Attorney General, Respondent
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Joshua Tyler MorrisFoundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Amicus
Joshua Tyler MorrisFoundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Amicus
The Texas State Conference of the N.A.A.C.P. and Faith Commons
Peter Blackmer SteffensenSMU Dedman School of Law First Amendment Clinic, Amicus
Peter Blackmer SteffensenSMU Dedman School of Law First Amendment Clinic, Amicus
Torrey Lynne Henderson, et al.
Savannah KumarACLU of Texas, Petitioner
Savannah KumarACLU of Texas, Petitioner