Gorin v. United States

312 U.S. 19 (1941)

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Gorin v. United States

United States Supreme Court
312 U.S. 19 (1941)

  • Written by Tanya Munson, JD

Facts

Gorin and Salich (defendants) were tried and convicted by the United States (plaintiff) for obtaining documents connected with the national defense in violation of the Espionage Act. The Espionage Act prohibits obtaining information respecting the national defense or information concerning a variety of places and things, such as vessels, air crafts, signal stations, or other places connected with the national defense, to be used to the injury of the United States or the advantage of any foreign nation. Salich provided Gorin with reports from a Naval Intelligence branch office that detailed information about Japanese military and civil officials and other persons of interest. Gorin was acting as an agent for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Gorin and Salich appealed, arguing that the Espionage Act’s prohibitions were limited based on the specific language of the act and that the definition of national defense is unconstitutional based on its indefiniteness.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Reed, J.)

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