united_states united_states case court struck stolen act federal law false statements having military medal law passed effort stem instances people falsely claimed won medal attempt protect majority supreme_court agreed law unconstitutional amendment free speech agree single rationale justices concluded statement exclude speech amendment protection justices concluded false statements entitled protection stolen act invalid achieved objectives restrictive ways veteran organizations politicians reacted negatively months decision chambers congress passed new versions stolen act based suggestions court opinion despite supreme_court having struck conviction act remained prison fraud matters background president signed stolen act law december act previous provisions addressing unauthorized wear manufacture sale military decorations medals making falsely represent oneself having received military decoration medal convicted defendants imprisoned months decoration lied medal honor case imprisonment year proponents congress argued law passed prevent stealing soldiers returning engagements iraq afghanistan statements valley water meeting california new member introduced saying retired marine years retired year awarded congressional medal honor got wounded times guy statement true indicted violating stolen act california place trial occur rejected claim act unconstitutional decision reversed judge panel held law invalid entire panel instead judges denied dissent seven judges judge smith argued panel incorrectly rested supreme_court cases false facts receive amendment smith argued case act intended prevent injury military personnel right belongs natural persons governmental institutions symbols government appealed decision subsequently granted supreme_court supreme_court oral arguments supreme_court heard oral argument february solicitor general united_states appeared behalf united_states deputy appeared behalf spoke began explaining military honors touch core values armed forces stolen act simply aims protect core values immediately justice asked hypothetical vietnam war holds sign says won purple heart killing babies knowing statement didn win purple heart reader sure combat veteran opposes war citizen protesting war person veteran having received medal liable act responded suggesting act covered act reasonably understood audience statement fact exercise political theater questions argument focused lack injury caused false claims military honors nearly cases united_states cited support proposition amendment value court addressed false statement harmed statement relying cases stated court said numerous contexts numerous contexts calculated factual amendment value sake justice immediately sure correct said context understood speech think value simply find cases think sweeping proposition value way contrast false true opened defense argument emphasizing amendment intended protect personal autonomy response questions played court discontent apparent lack harm stating value long doesn cause imminent harm person imminent harm government function court conceded act speech response justice stated boy mean big concession saying win case court decides statement kind supreme_court decision june divided supreme_court held stolen act prohibition making false statements having awarded military medal violated amendment justices majority agree single rationale decision kennedy opinion justice writing consisting chief justice justice justice wrote false statements sole reason excluded amendment protection court endorsed rule government advances kennedy wrote prior decisions confronted measure like stolen act targets examples use false speech like kennedy argued government demonstrated false statements generally constitute new category unprotected speech opinion expressed wide stolen act act plain terms kennedy wrote applies false statement time place person breadth means law sweeping reach statute puts conflict amendment statute apply equal force personal conversations home balanced government need protect value medal said link government interest protecting integrity military honors system act restriction false claims like shown additionally kennedy wrote counter speech sufficient solution problem fair assumption true holders medal heard false claims fully community expression outrage truth needs badge permitting government decree speech criminal offense shouted barely endorse government authority list subjects false statements governmental power clear limiting principal constitutional tradition stands idea need novel justice joined agreed stolen act unconstitutional entirely different grounds based finding strict scrutiny test intermediate scrutiny test test examines statute works speech related harm proportion holding congress create database won medal alternatives existing law said lesser restrictive means achieve government interest dissent justice joined justices court decision striking act ruling broken sharply long line cases recognizing right free speech protect false factual statements inflict real harm serve legitimate interest stolen act wrote represents judgment people elected representatives false statements military awards different false statements civilian awards act narrow law enacted address important problem presents threat freedom expression subsequent developments reaction decision received praise constitutional grounds political spectrum amendment center called decision victory free speech common sense conservative described clear cut case found disturbing justice traditionally represented constitutional fact protecting free speech veterans organizations leaders dismayed decision spokesperson veterans foreign wars said despite ruling continue challenge far stories false heroes extent possible recipient medal vietnam war agreed piece metal suspended piece cloth pin people abuse need proponents stolen act promised bring forward limited legislation future expressed hope narrower law survive constitutional scrutiny felt good portions decision suggest narrowly tailored bill incorporates traditional fraud elements upheld says national commander attorney praised decision saying amendment protects lot americans government doesn decide aftermath remained legal trouble allegations government falsely receiving health insurance benefits convicted public funds grand theft insurance fraud sentenced years state prison discharged march revised stolen act effort initiated revise stolen act comply supreme_court decision resulted passage signing stolen act addition claim receiving listed military awards intent gain benefit value fraud required
United States v. Alvarez