Lyon Case 15 F. Case. 1183 (1798)
We often hear that a law is a bad idea, or even unconstitutional. But who is authorized to make this decision? Can a jury make this judgment? Even in the early days of the Union, this idea was roundly rejected. An example is the court's charge to the jury in the Lyon case.
In 1798, Vermont Congressman Matthew Lyon was charged with three counts of violating the Sedition Act, which prohibits stirring up sedition to hold the president and the U.S. government in contempt. The first count alleged that Lyon wrote a document criticizing President Adams and his chosen government officials. The second count alleged that Lyon published a letter he received from a French diplomat that also criticized Adams' interactions with France. The third count accused Lyon of helping to publish the letter.
At that time, U.S. Supreme Court justices also had to travel the circuit to hear cases in federal trial courts. Judge William Paterson presided over Lyon's trial. After the evidence was presented, Lyon argued to the jury that he had not violated the sedition law and that the law was unconstitutional.
Would you like more details on this case? Get the rule of law, issues, decision and reasoning, and other facts here: https://www.quimbee.com/cases/lyon-s-case
The Quimbee application offers more than 16,300 files classified in 223 casebooks. Try it free for 7 days! https://www.quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Do you have questions about this matter? Submit your questions and get answers from a real lawyer here: https://www.quimbee.com/cases/lyon-s-case
Did we just become best friends? Stay connected to Quimbee here: Subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_userQuimbeeDotCom
Quimbee Case Brief app https://www.quimbee.com/case-briefs-overview
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/quimbeedotcom/
Twitter https://twitter.com/quimbeedotcom
#casebriefs #lawcases #casesummaries
Please take the opportunity to connect and share this video with your friends and family if you find it useful.
