Following the oral arguments in U.S. v. Eichman and [U.S. v.
Haggerty], attorneys, defendants, and members of
Congress talked with reporters about the cases. Both cases challenged the
constitutionality of a law passed last year by Congress which makes
desecration of the U.S. flag a crime. Solicitor General Ken Starr
argued in favor of the statute protecting the flag. William Kunstler
argued that flag burning should be protected as an expression of free
speech.