Landmark Supreme Court Cases Logan Holland Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Plessy v. Ferguson Setting – 1892, Louisiana Story- Fat Albert, 1/8 African American 7/8 Caucasian, got on the white bus in Louisiana and was like “Hey, Hey, Hey” Fat Albert refused to move and was arrested

Plessy v. Ferguson Question - Is Louisiana's law mandating racial segregation on its trains an unconstitutional infringement on both the privileges and immunities and the equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment? Decision-the state law was within constitutional boundaries. This upheld state-imposed racial segregation under the Separate but Equal Clause. Fourteenth amendment- All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 7 votes in support of ferguson (the state), 1 against

Weeks v. United States Setting- 1913, Residence of Weeks Story- Woody(the police) entered Weeks’ home to convict him of transporting lottery tickets through the mail

Weeks v. United States Question- Did the search and seizure of Weeks' home violate the Fourth Amendment? Decision- The Court decided that the seizure of items from Weeks' residence directly violated his constitutional rights. The Court also held that the government's refusal to return Weeks' possessions violated the Fourth Amendment. Fourth amendment- which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause 9 votes in support of weeks

Schechter Poultry Corp. V. United States Location- 1934, Schechter Poultry Slaughterhouse Markets Story- Section 3 of the National industrial Recovery Act empowered the President to implement industrial codes to regulate weekly employment hours, wages, and minimum ages of employees. The codes had standing as penal statutes.

Schechter Poultry Corp. V. United States Question- Did Congress unconstitutionally delegate legislative power to the President? Decision- The court held that Section 3 was “without precedent” and violated the Constitution. The law did not establish rules or standards to evaluate industrial activity. The unanimous court found this to be an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority. 9 votes for schechter poultry corporation, unanimous

McDonald V. Chicago Location- 2009, Chicago Story- Several suits were filed against Chicago and Oak Park in Illinois, the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Colombia v. Heller. In that case, the supreme court held that the handgun ban in the District of Colombia was in violation of the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

McDonald V. Chicago Question- Does the Second Amendment apply to the states because it is incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges and Immunities or Due Process clauses and thereby made applicable to the states? Decision- The Second Amendment shall apply to the states. Due Process Clause acts as a safeguard from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by the Government outside the sanction of law. Decision was made 5 in support, 4 against