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Supreme Court strikes down federal Stolen Valor law

The court voted 6-3 Thursday in favor of Xavier Alvarez, a former local elected official in California who falsely claimed he was a decorated war veteran.

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Alex Brandon/AP
The front of the US Supreme Court is seen on the eve of Thursday's expected ruling on whether or not the Affordable Care Act passes the test of constitutionality, on June 27, in Washington.
  • By Associated Press

| WASHINGTON

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a federal law making it a crime to lie about having received the Medal of Honor and other prized military awards.

The court voted 6-3 Thursday in favor of Xavier Alvarez, a former local elected official in California who falsely claimed he was a decorated war veteran.

Alvarez had pleaded guilty to violating a 2006 law that was adopted with the U.S. 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.

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