Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville

The Jacksonville vagrancy ordinance, under which petitioners were convicted, is void for vagueness, in that it "fails to give a person of ordinary intelligence fair notice that his contemplated conduct is forbidden by the statute," it encourages arbitrary and erratic arrests and convictions, it makes criminal activities that by modern standards are normally innocent, and it places almost unfettered discretion in the hands of the police. Pp. 161-171.

236 So. 2d 141, reversed.

DOUGLAS, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which all Members joined except POWELL and REHNQUIST, JJ., who took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

Samuel S. Jacobson argued the cause and filed briefs for petitioners.

T. Edward Austin Jr., argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were James C. Rinaman, Jr., and J. Edward Wall.