of the Supreme Court had changed drama-tically. Justices McReynolds and Hughes had retired. Justice Stone was elevated to Chief Justice and Robert Jackson and James Byrnes were appointed to the bench. In the meantime, Justices Black, Douglas and Murphy distanced themselves from the Gobitis decision.

The Supreme Court handed down its ruling on Flag Day, Monday, June 14th, 1943. In three years the Supreme Court made its quickest and most complete reversal in its history. The court ruled six to three, directly overruling the Gobitis decision. Justice Jackson wrote a virulent majority opinion; Justice Frankfurter wrote a bitter dissenting opinion.

Epilogue

The Gobitas children graduated from private schools and then moved to Brooklyn, New York to...

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