in texas v. johnson the supreme court ruled that flag-burning is protected by the​
Texas v. Johnson Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989)[1], was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that invalidated prohibitions on desecrating the American flag enforced in 48 of the 50 states. Justice William Brennan wrote for a five-justice majority in holding that the defendant Gregory Lee Johnson's act of flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Johnson was represented by attorneys David D. Cole and William Kunstler.