Supreme Court of the United States
Barenblatt v. United States
October 12, 1959360 U.S. 109
Summary
The Court affirmed Barenblatt's conviction for contempt of Congress, holding that the congressional committee had authority to investigate Communist activity in education, that he was adequately informed of the pertinency of the questions, and that compelling answers about Communist Party membership did not violate the First Amendment. The Court balanced Barenblatt's associational interests against Congress's legislative and national-security interests and found the latter controlling on this record. Justice Black, joined by the Chief Justice and Justice Douglas, and Justice Brennan, dissenting, would have reversed because the inquiry served exposure and punishment rather than a legitimate legislative purpose.