Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Question: What is a “landmark” Supreme Court case? A case that had a major impact on society because, like all Supreme Court cases, they ultimately changed the way Americans understand/interpret the U.S. Constitution. Question: Who makes up the Supreme Court?  Nine judges, called justices — make up the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court is led by one justice, called the Chief Justice of the United States. The other eight justices are known as Associate Justices. Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This nomination and confirmation process is an example of the constitutional principle known as checks and balances.

Schenck v. United States (1919) Landmark Supreme Court Cases dealing with the First Amendment. Court Case: Facts of the Case Summary of the Decision Significance of the Decision (Impact) Crown v. John Peter Zenger (1735) Zenger was a German immigrant who printed a publication called The NEW YORK WEEKLY JOURNAL. This publication harshly pointed out the actions of the corrupt royal governor. The court founded Zenger not guilty Although true freedom of the press was not known until the passage of the FIRST AMENDMENT, newspaper publishers felt freer to print their honest views. Schenck v. United States (1919) The case involved a prominent socialist, Charles Schenck, who attempted to distribute thousands of flyers to American servicemen recently drafted to fight in World War I. Schenck's flyers asserted that the draft amounted to "involuntary servitude” and urged draftees to petition for repeal of the draft. that Schenck’s protests against US involvement in WWI were a “clear and present danger” to the United States Free speech is not actually unlimited. Tinker vs. Des Moines (1969) To protest the Vietnam War, Mary Beth Tinker and her brother wore black armbands to school. Fearing a disruption, the administration prohibited wearing such armbands. The Tinkers were removed from school when they failed to comply. The wearing of black arm bands was protected by the Constitution. Students enjoy protection of the Bill of Rights unless their actions materially disrupt the educational environment. Students do not leave their rights at the schoolhouse door. New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) In what became known as the "Pentagon Papers Case," the Nixon Administration attempted to prevent the New York Times and Washington Post from publishing materials belonging to a classified Defense Department study regarding the history of United States activities in Vietnam. The Court ruled that the papers did not violate national security and therefore the newspapers had the right to publish them. See summary of decision.

Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka (1954) Landmark Supreme Court Cases dealing with rights for African Americans Court Case: Facts of the Case Summary of the Decision Significance of the Decision (Impact) Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) Dred Scott, a slave, had moved with his master to Illinois, a free state. He moved again to a slave state, Missouri, and filed suit to gain freedom, under that state’s law of “Once free, always free.” at blacks were not citizens and that slaves were property and could be taken anywhere, regardless of a state’s status as free or slave holding Enraged many people to join the abolitionist cause and further divided the country around the issue of slavery – one step closer to civil war. Plessy v. Ferguson (1898) Police arrested Homer Plessy for refusing to leave a railroad car that prohibited “colored” people. Under Louisiana law, Plessy was “colored” because he was one-eighth black. established that “separate but equal” facilities were legal (thereby upholding the Jim Crow laws of Southern states) Allowed states to continue to have Jim Crow laws and the black codes – gave these laws a legal backing Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka (1954) This case was the consolidation of four cases arising in separate states relating to the segregation of public schools on the basis of race. In each of the cases, African American minors had been denied admittance to certain public schools based on laws allowing public education to be segregated by race. They argued that such segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. one of the most celebrated cases, the court struck down separate but equal and ordered integration in the nation's schools with "all deliberate speed. With Brown, desegregation of public schools began—as did resistance to it. Ten contentious years later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made racial equality a matter of federal law.

RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED (a person ACCUSED of a crime) Court Case: Facts of the Case Summary of the Decision Significance of the Decision (Impact) Mapp v. Ohio (1961) While searching Dollree Mapp's house, police officers discovered obscene materials and arrested her. Because the police officers never produced a search warrant, she argued that the materials should be suppressed as the fruits of an illegal search and seizure. The court agreed with Dollree Mapp. right against illegal search and seizure Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) Gideon was accused of committing a felony. Being poor, he petitioned the judge to provide him with an attorney free of charge. The judge denied his request. The Supreme Court ruled for Gideon, saying that the Sixth Amendment requires poor/needy criminal defendants to be provided an attorney free of charge. right to counsel Miranda v. Arizona (1966) After hours of police interrogations, Ernesto Miranda confessed to rape and kidnapping. At trial, he sought to suppress his confession, stating that he was not advised of his rights to counsel and to remain silent. The Supreme Court agreed with Ernesto Miranda, holding that police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning. established a suspect’s right to be informed of his or her rights * All of these cases were decided when Earl Warren was acting Chief Justice (Warren Court) - expansion of individual rights in criminal cases

Supreme Court Decisions Under Chief Justice JOHN MARSHALL (1801-1835) Court Case: Summary of the Decision Significance/Importance Marbury vs. Madison (1803) JUDICIAL REVIEW! Judicial Review/Separation of powers McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) John Marshall declares "the power to tax is the power to destroy." The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution prohibits state taxation of a federal institution. Judicial Review; Federalism Gibbons vs. Ogden (1824) Congress has the authority to regulate Interstate Commerce Judicial Review/Federalism If you see… John Marshall Answer: Either he expanded the power of the federal government, or judicial review

Chief Justice John Marshall is a MAD MAN Marbury v. MADison (1803 – same yr as Louisiana Purchase) Supreme Court power to decide whether laws passed by Congress were constitutional or unconstitutional = JUDICIAL REVIEW - Marshall was the MAN for strengthening the power of the U.S. Supreme Court

Supreme Court Decisions Under Chief Justice EARL WARREN (1953-1969) Key Influence: active in expanding the rights of the accused Court Case: Summary of the Decision: Significance/Importance: Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) Segregation in public schools in unconstitutional With Brown, desegregation of public schools began—as did resistance to it. Ten contentious years later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made racial equality a matter of federal law. Engle v. Vitale (1962) the U.S. Supreme Court declared school-sponsored prayers unconstitutional schools can not mandate or sponsor prayer in school Miranda vs. Arizona (1966) established a suspect’s right to be informed of his or her rights

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