Justice William O Douglas on Privacy.
Justice William O Douglas on Privacy.
Douglas’s most notable opinion for the Court was Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), in which he argued for a constitutional right to privacy based on his interpretation of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th Amendments. Although this opinion has prevailed, it also has been controversial because a right to privacy is not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.
“The privacy and dignity of our citizens [are] being whittled away by sometimes imperceptible steps. Taken individually, each step may be of little consequence. But when viewed as a whole, there begins to emerge a society quite unlike any we have seen — a society in which government may intrude into the secret regions of a [person’s] life.”
“Big Brother in the form of an increasingly powerful government and in an increasingly powerful private sector will pile the records high with reasons why privacy should give way to national security, to law and order, to efficiency of operation, to scientific advancement and the like.”
Action Items:
Discuss the preceding statements made by Justice Douglas and their relevance for 21st century society.
Provide references from the readings or internet resources to support your arguments.
Justice William O. Douglas was Justice for the Supreme Court from 1939-75
Douglas’s most notable opinion for the Court was Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), in which he argued for a constitutional right to privacy based on his interpretation of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th Amendments. Although this opinion has prevailed, it also has been controversial because a right to privacy is not written specifically into the Constitution.
Justice William O Douglas on Privacy.
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