JOSEPH BURSTYN, INC. v. WILSON, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF NEW YORK, et al.

Legal Principle at Issue

Whether a New York Education Law that prohibited the commercial showing of any motion picture film without a license, and authorized denial of a license on a censors conclusion that a film was "sacrilegious," violated the First Amendment. Could the New York Board of Regents ban Roberto Rossellinis The Miracle under regulations barring "sacrilegious" films?

Action

Reversed. Petitioning party received a favorable disposition.

Advocated for Respondent

Charles A. Brind Jr. View all cases
Wendell P. Brown View all cases

Advocated for Petitioner

Ephraim S. London View all cases

Cite this page

JOSEPH BURSTYN, INC. v. WILSON, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF NEW YORK, et al.. (n.d.). First Amendment Library. Retrieved March 30, 2025, from https://www.thefire.org/supreme-court/joseph-burstyn-inc-v-wilson-commissioner-education-new-york-et-al
JOSEPH BURSTYN, INC. v. WILSON, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF NEW YORK, et al., First Amendment Library, https://www.thefire.org/supreme-court/joseph-burstyn-inc-v-wilson-commissioner-education-new-york-et-al (last visited 30 Mar. 2025).
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). "JOSEPH BURSTYN, INC. v. WILSON, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF NEW YORK, et al.." Oyez. https://www.thefire.org/supreme-court/joseph-burstyn-inc-v-wilson-commissioner-education-new-york-et-al (accessed March 30, 2025).
"JOSEPH BURSTYN, INC. v. WILSON, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION OF NEW YORK, et al.." First Amendment Library. Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), n.d. 30 Mar. 2025, www.thefire.org/supreme-court/joseph-burstyn-inc-v-wilson-commissioner-education-new-york-et-al.