In the 1963 case of Fallen v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the defendant, upholding his conviction for refusing to obey an order while incarcerated in a federal prison. The plaintiff, William Fallen, was serving time at Alcatraz when he refused to stop singing and creating disturbances during "quiet hours." He argued that this refusal did not constitute a crime under federal law because it wasn't explicitly mentioned as such; however, the court disagreed. The justices found that maintaining discipline within prisons is crucial for their operation and safety. Therefore they held that prisoners are subject to rules set by prison officials even if these aren't specifically outlined in legislation or regulations - including orders given directly by guards or other staff members. This decision affirmed lower courts' rulings which had also upheld Fallen's additional sentence for disobeying orders from correctional officers.

In the dissenting opinion for Fallen v. United States, Justice Douglas argued that the petitioner's Sixth Amendment rights were violated because he was not allowed to represent himself in court. He believed that an individual should have the right to defend themselves without a lawyer if they choose to do so, as long as they are competent and understand what they're doing. The majority ruled against this view, stating that it would be too disruptive and chaotic for courts if defendants could simply decide on their own whether or not to use legal counsel. However, Justice Douglas disagreed with this reasoning and felt strongly about upholding individuals' constitutional rights even when it might create complications within the judicial system.