Legal Defense Fund Takes Martin King Contempt Case to the U.S. Supreme Court

Press Release
June 20, 1966

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Press Releases, Volume 4. Legal Defense Fund Takes Martin King Contempt Case to the U.S. Supreme Court, 1966. 56760309-b792-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/df4e830f-9b9c-4f45-a68a-ecd4381e65a2/legal-defense-fund-takes-martin-king-contempt-case-to-the-us-supreme-court. Accessed December 04, 2025.

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    10 Columbus Circle ZS 
New York, N.Y. 10019 
JUdson 6-8397 

Legal Defense and Educational’ Fitnd 
PRESS RELEASE 

LEGAL ‘DEFENSE FUND TAKES 
President 

as Hon. Francis E. Rivers MARTIN KING CONTEMPT CASE 

€ Director-Counsel JO. THE U.S. SUPREME COURT 

: Jack Greenberg 

ote WASHINGTON---The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. has 

asked the U. S. Supreme Court to review the Birmingham, Alabama con- 

tempt convictions of Rev. Martin Luther King and seven other civil 

rights leaders. 
i 

Legal Defense Fund attorneys po to overturn an Alabama 

Supreme Court ruling that held that Dr. King and his associates 

might be punished for disobeying an injunction issued to prohibit 

demonstration marches, Xe. ‘ 

The petition argues the key principle that, although citi- 

zens must obey.an injunction, if it is valid, etizens should not 

have to obey injunctions which prevent the exercise of constitu- 

tional rights of freedom of speech and assembly. 

The attorneys point to the famous case of the late John L, 

Lewis, former president of the United Mine Workers. 

This present case grew out of the famous Good Friday and Easter gy 

Sunday 1963 demonstrations of the Southern Christian Leadership 

Conference and the Alabama Christian iiovement for Human Rights. 

Convicted leaders, in addition to Dr. King, include 

Rev. ‘Ralph Abernathy, \lyatt Tee Walker, A.D. King (brother of Dr, 

King), Fred L. Shuttlesworth, also J. W. Hayes, T. L. Fisher and 

J.T. Porter. 

Legal Defense attorneys point out that Birmingham civil 

rights leaders did attempt to gecure parade permits prior to begin- 

ning demonstrations, These were denied by Police Chief Eugene 

"Bull" Connor. 

However, Chief Connor then sought issuance of an ex 
partesrestraining order forbidding demonstrations. 

The Negroes “marched in protest of Birmingham's rigid 
racial.codes despite the injunctions 

The leaders were found in contempt of court and sentenced 
to five, peys in jail and fined $50.00 by the local circuit court. 

The Alabama Supreme Court kept the case under advisement 
from spgust 22, 1963 until December 9, 1965. 

ee Legal Defense Fund attorneys include Jack Greenberg, 
James M, Nabrit III, Norman C. Amaker, Leroy D, Clark of New York 
City: Arthur D, Shores and Orzell Billingsley of Birmingham, Harry 
H. Watchtel and Benjamin Spiegel, of New York, were of counsel. 

Jesse DeVore, Jr., Director of Public Information—Night Number 212 Riverside 9-8487 =e

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Legal Defense Fund Takes Martin King Contempt Case to the U.S. Supreme Court

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