GORIN v. UNITED STATES
Supreme Court Cases
312 U.S. 19 (1941)
Case Overview
Legal Principle at Issue
Whether the Espionage Act's definition of "national defense" was unconstitutionally vague, making it impossible for citizens to know what information was prohibited, thus violating due process.
Action
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Facts/Syllabus
This case pertained to the sale of information on the activities of Japanese-Americans citizens and Japanese residents to Soviet Union intelligence agent Mihail Gorin.
Importance of Case
In Gorin v. United States, the Supreme Court rules that the Espionage Act contains unconstitutionally vague language. It specifically notes the phrases “relating to the national defense” and “connected to the national defense.”
The Court also specifies that bad faith is necessary in order to convict those accused of violating parts (a) and (b) of section 793 relating to “gathering, transmitting or losing defense information.”