Supreme Court To Hear Stolen Valor Case

The Supreme Court says it will decide whether a federal law making it a crime to lie about being awarded a military medal or decoration violated free-speech rights.

The justices agreed to review a ruling that struck down the “Stolen Valor Act” passed by Congress in 2006.

The appeal says the law went too far in infringing on constitutional freedom-of-speech protections.

The law targets individuals who falsely claim that they won a military decoration or medal.

Violators can face up to one year if convicted.

Appeals court judges who struck down the law say that if lying about a medal can be classified a crime, so can lying about one’s age or finances on Facebook.

The case involves Xavier Alvarez. He said he was a retired Marine who won the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.

Alvarez never received the award and never served in the military.

Alvarez became the first person charged under the law in 2007. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $5,000 fine and perform more than 400 hours of community service at a veterans hospital.

He then challenged the law for violating his free-speech rights.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case early next year, with a ruling likely by the end of June.