Landmark Supreme Court Cases

The Supreme Court Expands its Power

Marbury v. Madison, 1803 Facts of the Case John Adams tried to appoint Marbury and several other guys to positions before he left office. The last minute attempts were never finalized The angry appointees sued for their jobs in the Supreme Court Question Presented Is Marbury entitled to his appointment? Conclusion -Yes - Established “Judicial Review” the ability for courts to interpret the Constitution

Supreme Court and Individual rights

Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896 Facts of the Case Louisiana passed a law that required separate railway cars for blacks and whites Homer Plessy took a seat in the a “white only” car of a train. He refused to move to the car for blacks and was arrested Question Presented Did this arrest violate his 14th amendment (equal protection) Conclusion Conclusion “You can keep things separated as long as they are equal.” “Separate but equal” Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896

Brown v. Board of Education,1954 Facts of the Case Black children were denied admission to public schools Things were equal in terms of building, curricula, and qualifications of teachers salaries Question -Is segregation correct and in violation of the 14th “equal protection” amendment? Conclusion - “YES” you cannot possibly by separated and equal because you are separating things on the bases that they are not the same. “Separate is NOT equal” *** Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg B.O.E

Supreme Court and the Power of Speech

Tinker V. Des Moines, 1969 Facts of the Case John Tinker (15), Mary Beth Tinker (13), and Christopher Echardt (16) decided to protest the vietnam war by wearing black arm bands to their school during the Christmas holiday seasion The principals of the school districts said that all student wearing these arm bands were to take them off or face suspensions. They feared it would provoke disturbances The students wore their armbands anyway and when they did not take them off they were suspended until after New Year’s Day Questions -Did this violate the students’ “First amendment right?” Conclusion - The wearing of the armbands was part of freedom of speech. Although school officials have the right to prohibit certain actions, they fail to show how the protest would cause trouble and disturbance in the school setting

Supreme Court and the Rights of the Accused

Miranda V. Arizona, 1966 Facts of the case -Ernesto Miranda had been arrested at his home in Phoenix, Arizona and accused of kidnapping and rape. -He was questioned at the police station by 2 police officers has was not advised of his right to an attorney nor his right to remain silent. -After two hours of interrogation, he signed a written confession to the crime. He was found guilty and sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison Question -Does the police practice of interrogating individuals without notifying them of their right to counsel and their protection against self-incrimination violate he 5th Amendment? Conclusion -A person in police custody “or otherwise deprived of his freedom…must be warned prior to any questioning that he has the right to remain silent, and that anything he says can be used against him in the court of law..”

Supreme Court and the Separation of Powers

United States V. Nixon, 1974 Facts of the case -5 men with bugging equipment and cameras were arrested inside the Democratic National Convention Committee’s offices at the Watergate Complex -Police discovered that these men worked for President Nixon. -Men convicted of burglary; court subpoenaed recorded tapes held by Nixon . Nixon refused to release tapes under “executive privilege” Question -Does the separation of powers provide the President with an absolute power to withhold information from other government branches? Conclusion -Court ruled Nixon had to surrender tapes because he could not withhold evidence from an ongoing criminal investigation of another person -Nixon became first president to resign from office on August 9. 1974