Supreme Court of the United States, 1948

Justice Black delivered the unanimous opinion holding that a litigant need not be absolutely destitute to appeal in forma pauperis and cannot be denied that opportunity merely because other claimants fail to contribute costs or submit poverty affidavits.

The Supreme Court held that the Lockport ordinance requiring a police chief's permit for the use of loud‑speaker devices in public parks is facially unconstitutional as a prior restraint on speech protected by the First Amendment and incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment.

Chief Justice Vinson delivered the opinion for a unanimous six-Justice Court, holding that state-court enforcement of racially restrictive property covenants constitutes state action denying the excluded purchasers equal protection of the laws.

The Court held that Scophony Corporation of America was both "found" and "transacted business" in the Southern District of New York, making venue proper and service of process valid under §12 of the Clayton Act.

The Court held that Scophony, Limited was both "found" and "transacts business" in the Southern District of New York, establishing venue and permitting service of process under §12 of the Clayton Act, and therefore reversed the district court’s dismissal and remanded for further proceedings.

The Court held that the earlier determination of Sunnen’s tax liability did not preclude litigation concerning royalties received in later tax years. Separate license contracts were not subject to collateral estoppel merely because they resembled the previously adjudicated contract, and intervening developments in…

The Court, in an opinion by Justice Reed, reversed dismissal of the government's Sherman Act suit and remanded for further proceedings. The government's evidence established an industry-wide conspiracy using patent licenses and pricing bulletins to fix prices, suppress competing unpatented board, eliminate jobbers…