Bond was a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which opposed the Vietnam War.

A hearing was held, and Bond repeated his pacifist viewpoints, but maintained that he never urged draft-card burning or other law violations.

Bond sued in federal court, but the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia upheld the House, with a three-judge panel concluding 2–1 that Bond's remarks exceeded criticism of national policy and that he could not in good faith take an oath to support the state and federal constitutions.

Judges Lewis Render Morgan and Griffin Bell ruled against Bond, while Elbert Tuttle dissented.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ordered the Georgia House of Representatives to permit Bond to take his seat.