Bridges v. California
United States Supreme Court
314 U.S. 252 (1941)
Relevant factsFree
While a motion for a new trial was pending in litigation between two unions, Bridges (defendant), the president of the losing union, published a telegram to the Secretary of Labor calling the trial court's ruling outrageous and predicting a strike that would tie up the Port of Los Angeles if the ruling were enforced. California (plaintiff) charged and convicted Bridges of contempt of court for publishing the telegram.
IssueFree
Whether speech may be punished as contempt of court when it criticizes a pending judicial matter and predicts future disruptive action, under the clear-and-present-danger standard.