Laird v. Tatum 408 U.S. 1 (1972)

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LAIRD v. TATUM 408 U.S. 1 (1972)

Protesters against American involvement in the vietnam war sued to stop Army intelligence surveillance which they claimed had a chilling effect on the exercise of their first amendment rights. Chief Justice warren e. burger's opinion for the Court, in a 5–4 decision, held that the case lacked ripeness because the protesters had presented no "claim of specific present objective … or … future harm" but only the fear that "the army may at some future date misuse the information in some way" that would harm them.

Martin Shapiro
(1986)

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