United States v. Guest (1965)
- Docket
- 65
- Decided
- 1965-01-01
- Category
- General
Summary
Question: Was the federal indictment based on an offense under the laws of the United States? Conclusion: If a state participates at all in a conspiracy it has violated the Fourteenth Amendment with regard to any individuals whose rights are infringed, based on the constitutional right to travel. In an 8-1 opinion authored by Justice Potter Stewart, the Court held that a criminal conspiracy affecting an individual's right of free interstate passage violated the law. The Court reasoned that the indictment contained an express allegation of state involvement sufficient at least to require denial of a motion to dismiss. If the predominate purpose of the conspiracy is to prevent the exercise of the right of travel, or to oppress a person of that right, as was the case here, then whether or not motivated by racial discrimination, the conspiracy becomes a proper object of federal law under which the indictment was brought. Therefore, the federal indictment was based on an offense under the laws of the United States. Justice Clark, joined by Justices Black and Fortas, concurred. Justice Harlan dissented in part and concurred in part. Justice Brannan, joined by Justices Warrant and Douglas, dissented in part and concurred in part.