DOMBROWSKI DOCTRINE

Dombrowski  doctrine.  A  short-lived  rule  that  entitled  a  person  to  seek  a  federal-court

injunction to prevent prosecution under a broad or vague state statute that affects rights guaranteed

by  the  First  Amendment.  Dombrowski  v.  Pfister,  380  U.S.  479,  85  S.Ct.  1116  (1965).  •  The

doctrine was greatly cut back six years after it was announced, when the Supreme Court ruled that

a  speculative  First  Amendment chilling  effect  does not justify  federal-court  intervention  in  state

affairs. Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 91 S.Ct. 746 (1971). [Cases: Courts    508. C.J.S. Courts

§§ 216, 218–219.] [Blacks Law 8th]