Supreme Court Cases
Supreme Court Cases Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896 West Coast Hotel v. Parrish, 1937 Miranda v. Arizona, 1966 Bethel School District v. Fraser, 1986 BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION (I), 1952
Supreme Court Cases Summarize background & issues of your case. Summarize the Court’s decision. What is the effect of this case? What is your opinion about this case?
Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896 Background: Racially segregated trains --- Plessy sits in the ‘whites only’ train and is then arrested --- argues that segregation is unconstitutional Decision: Segregation is okay as long as it is equal --- separate but equal Effect: Starts racial segregation (whites only, colored only) OPINIONS?
West Coast Hotel v. Parrish, 1937 Background: Parrish receives pay below minimum wage and sues to receive the difference. Decision: Court agrees with Parrish saying that minimum wage law was constitutional because it protect the health and welfare of workers Effect: Everyone MUST be paid minimum wage
Miranda v. Arizona, 1966 Background: People were being interrogated and confessing to crimes, but did not have their rights told to them. Miranda sued on the basis of self-incriminilization Decision: Agreed with Miranda that you must be read your rights before you are interrogated Effect: Before you are interrogated you MUST be read your rights or else you can’t use the information in court!
Bethel School District v. Fraser, 1986 Background: Fraser, a student gives an inappropriate speech at school using offensive words. He is suspended and sues the school Decision: In favor of the school, because students have freedom of speech but up to a point in school. His speech was not consistent with the "values of public school education.“ Effect: Students have freedom of speech, but it only up to a point. You still need to be respectful in school settings.
BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION (I), 1952 Background: Fight to end segregation of schools, because it is not legal. Argument is that the segregated schools are equal so they are legal Court decision: Segregated schools are NOT equal, hence they are unconstitutional Effect: End of segregation