This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

On April 12, 1963, 52 people, all Negroes, were led out of a church by three Negro ministers. At the end of four blocks, the marchers were stopped by the Birmingham police an arrested for violating a Birmingham statute that made it illegal to parade without obtaining a permit. Shuttlesworth (D) was convicted and sentenced to 90 days at hard labor and another 48 days for failure to pay the fine and costs. The Court of Appeals reversed and the State Supreme Court reinstated the conviction. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.