The U.S. Supreme Court today struck down the Stolen Valor Act. The federal law made it illegal to lie about having been awarded military medals like the Medal of Honor.
The Military Times reports the court's decision was a 6-3 ruling. The case centered around a California man, Xavier Alvarez, who falsely claimed to be a recipient of the Medal of Honor:
Alvarez had pleaded guilty to violating a 2006 law that was adopted with the nation at war in Afghanistan and Iraq and aimed at people making phony claims of heroism in battle. The court, in a judgment written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ordered that his conviction be thrown out.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the court ruled Alvarez's falsehood was free speech protected by the 1st Amendment.
