Can a small possibility of a statute arguably being applied to protected conduct be invalidated or speculative restriction of the statute?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from Andre P., In re, 226 Cal.App.3d 1164, 277 Cal.Rptr. 363 (Cal. App. 1991):

Appellant demonstrates no instance where a small possibility of a statute arguably being applied to protected conduct should result in invalidation or speculative restriction of the statute as a result of anticipation. For example, that a person who burns the flag of our country might be [226 Cal.App.3d 1178] arrested for disturbing the peace even though such conduct may be construed as protected First Amendment expression does not mean the remedy is to invalidate the statute against disturbing the peace. More reasonably, the remedy is to conclude the protected conduct is not proscribed by the statute. As discussed in Broadrick, "[P]articularly where conduct and not merely speech is involved, we believe that the overbreadth of a statute must not only be real, but substantial as well, judged in relation to the statute's plainly legitimate sweep. It is our view that section 818 is not substantially overbroad and that whatever overbreadth may exist should be cured through case-by-case analysis of the fact situations to which its sanctions, assertedly, may not be applied." (Broadrick v. Oklahoma, supra, 413 U.S. at pp. 615-616, 93 S.Ct. at p. 2918, fn. omitted.)

Otherwise stated: "It may be that such restrictions [under administrative rules] are impermissible and that section 818 may be susceptible of some other improper applications. But, as presently construed, we do not believe that section 818 must be disregarded in toto because some person's arguably protected conduct may or may not be caught or chilled by the statute. Section 818 is not substantially overbroad and is not, therefore, unconstitutional on its face." (Broadrick v. Oklahoma, supra, 413 U.S. at p. 618, 93 S.Ct. at p. 2919.)

"Words inevitably contain germs of uncertainty...." (Broadrick v. Oklahoma, supra, 413 U.S. at p. 608, 93 S.Ct. at p. 2913.) Recognition of this fact assumes words and statutes will be given their ordinarily

Page 371

Other Questions


Does a federal decision construing a state forfeiture statute apply the same weight and authority as it applies to a federal forfeiture statute? (California, United States of America)
Does the exclusionary rule apply when the police conduct a search in "objectively reasonable reliance" on a warrant later held invalid? (California, United States of America)
What is the "necessity" test for determining whether a restriction or restriction on a prisoner's constitutional rights is restrictive enough to be struck down? (California, United States of America)
Does the inequitable conduct of the insurer in the context of the statute of limitations apply? (California, United States of America)
When harmonizing two statutes relating to the same subject, can a particular or specific statute take precedence over a conflicting general statute? (California, United States of America)
Does the good faith exception apply to negligent conduct by law enforcement officials such as conducting a search when the officials in question should have known a search was unconstitutional? (California, United States of America)
Does the prohibition against multiple punishment apply where there was a course of conduct that violated more than one statute but nevertheless constituted an indivisible transaction? (California, United States of America)
Does the term 'invalid' or 'voidable' in the context of the alienation of a person's property under the California Family Law Act apply to a person whose property is subject to alienation under the same statute? (California, United States of America)
Does Section 654 of the California Criminal Code apply to a transaction where there was one act in the ordinary sense but the other was a course of conduct that violated more than one statute? (California, United States of America)
Does the prohibition against multiple punishment apply where there was a course of conduct that violated more than one statute but nevertheless constituted an indivisible transaction? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.