Griffin v. Maryland

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Oral Argument
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Case Basics
Docket No.: 
6
Petitioner: 
Griffin
Respondent: 
Maryland
Decided By: 
Warren Court (1962-1965)
Opinion: 
378 U.S. 130 (1964)
Argued: 
November 5-7, 1962
Reargued: 
October 14-15, 1963

Cite this page
The Oyez Project, Griffin v. Maryland , 378 U.S. 130 (1964)
available at: (http://oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1962/1962_6)
Facts of the Case: 

On June 30, 1960, several white and black people picketed the private Glen Echo Amusement Park in Montgomery County, Maryland. The demonstrators protested against the park's policy "not to have colored people on the rides, or in the park." During the demonstration, William Griffin and four other Negroes entered the park to test its management's resolve. A state deputy, who worked as a security staff member in the park, soon observed them. After informing them of the park's racial policy, the deputy asked them to leave. When Griffin and his friends refused, they were arrested and later convicted for criminal trespass. State appellate courts affirmed the convictions. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Question: 

Did ordering five Negro patrons to leave a private amusement park, and arresting them for criminal trespass when they refused, violate their right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment?

Conclusion: 

Yes. The Court held that the arresting deputy, despite working as a private park employee at the time, possessed and acted under state authority, imputing responsibility for his actions to Maryland. Therefore, to the extent that he sought to enforce a private policy of racial discrimination, the state of Maryland must be charged with racial discrimination in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Decisions

Decision: 6 votes for Griffin, 3 vote(s) against
Legal provision: Equal Protection

Sort by Ideology

Wrote the majority opinion
Warren
Voted with the minority, joined Harlan's dissent
Black
Wrote a special concurrence
Douglas
Wrote a regular concurrence
Clark
Wrote a dissent
Harlan
Voted with the majority
Brennan
Voted with the majority
Stewart
Voted with the minority, joined Harlan's dissent
White
Voted with the majority
Goldberg

Full Opinion by Justice Earl Warren