<P> Texas v. Johnson , 491 U.S. 397 ( 1989 ) , was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that invalidated prohibitions on desecrating the American flag enforced in 48 of the 50 states . Justice William Brennan wrote for a five - justice majority in holding that the defendant Gregory Lee Johnson 's act of flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution . Johnson was represented by attorneys David D. Cole and William Kunstler . </P>
<P> Texas v. Johnson , 491 U.S. 397 ( 1989 ) , was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that invalidated prohibitions on desecrating the American flag enforced in 48 of the 50 states . Justice William Brennan wrote for a five - justice majority in holding that the defendant Gregory Lee Johnson 's act of flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution . Johnson was represented by attorneys David D. Cole and William Kunstler . </P>
in the johnson flag-burning case the supreme court ruled that
in the johnson flag-burning case the supreme court ruled that
act of flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment
act of flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment