Zwickler v. Koota, 389 U.S. 241 (1967), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that a federal court cannot use the abstention doctrine to avoid a constitutional issue merely because it determines that the plaintiff is unlikely to receive the relief they requested.[1] The underlying case was about an anonymous handbill law that the Court believed was overbroad.[2]

Zwickler v. Koota
Decided December 5, 1967
Full case nameZwickler v. Koota
Citations389 U.S. 241 (more)
Holding
A federal court cannot use the abstention doctrine to avoid a constitutional issue merely because it determines that the plaintiff is unlikely to receive the relief they requested.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Earl Warren
Associate Justices
Hugo Black · William O. Douglas
John M. Harlan II · William J. Brennan Jr.
Potter Stewart · Byron White
Abe Fortas · Thurgood Marshall
Case opinions
MajorityBrennan
ConcurrenceHarlan

References

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  1. ^ Zwickler v. Koota, 389 U.S. 241 (1967)
  2. ^ Lieberman, Jethro K. (1999). "Overbreadth Doctrine". A Practical Companion to the Constitution. p. 338.
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