Minersville School District v. Gobitis

Lillian and William Gobitis (plaintiffs), Jehovah's Witnesses aged ten and twelve, refused on religious grounds to salute the American flag during the Pledge of Allegiance at their Minersville School District (defendant) school and were expelled; their father sued the district, alleging the expulsion violated the children's and his own First Amendment rights, and the district court and court of appeals both ruled for the Gobitis family before the Supreme Court granted certiorari.