SMITH ET AL.
v.
FLORIDA

U.S. | 1972-02-24
No. 70-5055
Douglas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which all Justices joined, except Powell and Rehnquist, JJ., who took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
405 U.S. 172 Supreme Court of the United States (1972) Positive Treatment
Also reported at: 31 L. Ed. 2d 122 · 92 S. Ct. 848 · 1972 U.S. LEXIS 85 · SCDB 1971-063
Cited by 35 cases

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Holding

The Court vacated and remanded the judgment for reconsideration in light of a prior decision.


Facts & Procedural History

Defendants were charged under Florida's vagrancy statute for wandering without lawful purpose. They were convicted after a bench trial, and the Florid…

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Opinion of the Court
Mr. Justice Douglas

Mr. Justice Douglas delivered the opinion of the Court.

Florida’s vagrancy statute1 includes in the term “vagrants,” who can be criminally charged and convicted, “persons wandering or strolling around from place to place without any lawful purpose or object.”2 The defendants were so charged and pleaded not guilty, waived trial by jury, and were tried by a judge, who denied a motion to dismiss. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed, two judges dissenting. 239 So. 2d 250. The case is here on a petition for a writ of certiorari which we granted. 403 U. S. 917.

We have this day decided Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville, ante, p. 156. We therefore vacate and remand the judgment in the instant case for reconsideration in light of Papachristou.

So ordered.

Mr. Justice Powell and Mr. Justice Rehnquist took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.

Fla. Stat. §856.02 (1965). See Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville, decided this day, ante, at 157 n. 2.

§ 856.02.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By

  • State v. Sal Aiuppa, 298 So. 2d 391 (Fla. 1974)
    …atre refers to numerous cases striking down regulations for vagueness. The Supreme Court of the United States in the recent cases of Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville (1972) 405 U.S. 156, 92 S.Ct. 839, 31 L.Ed.2d 110, and Smith v. Florida (1972) 405 U.S. 172, 92 S.Ct. 848, 31 L.Ed.2d 122, invalidated vagrancy regulations and in doing so gave renewed emphasis to the principle vague laws are unconstitutional for failing to give fair advance notice thus allowing public officers unreasonable latitude in sup…
  • Iva Nelson Gonzales v. City OF Belle Glade, 287 So. 2d 669 (Fla. 1973)
    …ticular words . . . are not so vague when considered in the context of the entire Statute and with a view to effectuating the purpose of the act.” As to Smith and Mc-Arthur, see note 3, supra. . 405 U.S. 156, 92 S.Ct. 839, 31 L.Ed.2d 110 (1972). . 405 U.S. 172, 92 S.Ct. 848, 31 L.Ed.2d 122 (1972). . See, e. g. Gardner v. Ceci, 312 F.Supp. 516 (E.D.Wis.1970); Pritikin v. Thurman, 311 F.Supp. 1400 (S.D.Fla.1970); Gordon v. Schiro, 310 F.Supp. 884 (E.D.La.1970); Phillips v. Borough of Folcroft, Pennsylvania…
  • Russo v. State, 270 So. 2d 428 (Fla. 4th DCA 1972)
    …the defendant appeals. We reverse and remand for a new trial. After completion of trial court proceedings, F.S. 856.02, Laws of Í969, F.S.A., and the Jacksonville vagrancy ordinance were declared unconstitutional. Smith v. State of Florida (1972), 405 U.S. 172, 92 S.Ct. 848, 31 L.Ed.2d 122; Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville (1972), 405 U.S. 156, 92 S.Ct. 839, 31 L.Ed.2d 110. The defendant here was arrested under authority of Section 17-6, Code of the City of Plantation, Florida, the provisions of which…

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