1. Landmark Supreme Court Cases

2. Marbury v. Madison 1803 DECISION
Established the concept of Judicial Review: the Supreme court has the final authority to rule any law or act of government to be unconstitutional.

3. Plessy v. Ferguson Summary: DECISION 14th Amendment (1896)
Plessy (1/8 African American) was arrested for sitting in a “white only” train car to challenge the validity of segregation.
DECISION
Established the concept of “separate but equal” in public facilities, making segregation legal.
14th Amendment (1896)
Equal Protection Clause

4. Brown v. Board of Education
Summary
Linda Brown was forced to travel across town to the black school instead of attending her neighborhood school due to segregation laws.
DECISION
Schools were desegregated. “Separate but equal” is inherently unequal.
Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson
14th Amendment (1954)
Equal Protection Clause

5. Understanding Legal Terms
Precedent – Court case decision that establishes a rule or principle.
Example - The judge's ruling was based on a precedent established by an earlier decision.
Stare Decisis –The practice of standing by things decided. Following precedent.
Did the court decide follow the practice of stare decisis in Brown v. Board of Education?

7. Understanding Legal Terms
Habeas Corpus – States that a person cannot be kept in prison unless they have first been brought before a court of law, which decides whether it is legal for them to be kept in prison. Latin for "you should have the body”.

9. Gideon v. Wainwright Summary DECISION 6th Amendment (1963)
Gideon was charged with a crime. Florida law stated lawyers were only provided for free in death penalty and insanity cases. He had no money to pay a lawyer and was found guilty.
DECISION
All accused persons are entitled to a lawyer, even if they cannot afford one.
Person must have counsel provided, regardless of the charges filed against them
Gideon Rule
6th Amendment (1963)
Right to Counsel

10. Miranda v. Arizona What happened DECISION 5th Amendment (1966)
Miranda was arrested and never told of his right against self-incrimination. He signed a confession and was convicted.
DECISION
A person must be read his or her rights before being arrested.
When Ernesto Miranda was arrested and questioned, he signed a confession that listed that he had “full knowledge of his legal rights”. He was not made aware of his rights to counsel and the confession was ruled to be illegally gained.
5th Amendment (1966)
No Self Incrimination

11. In re Gault What happened DECISION 14th Amendment – Due Process (1966)
Sent to juvenile detention for an alleged obscene phone call. No lawyer provided – denied right to due process.
DECISION
Juveniles are provide due process as well as adults
Prior to this ruling, juvenile crimes were handled in family law, not criminal law.
14th Amendment – Due Process (1966)
No state shall deny any person of life, liberty or property without due process of the law.

12. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier What happened DECISION 1st Amendment (1988)
Students wrote an article the principal would not allow to be published in the school newspaper
DECISION
Schools can filter or limit information that is placed into a school newspaper.
This case allows school officials to have full control of school sponsored activities
Activities can continue “so long as their actions are reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns
1st Amendment (1988)
Freedom of Speech

13. U.S. vs. Nixon What happened DECISION
One of Nixon’s campaign manager’s hired some men to break into the offices of the Democratic Party in the Watergate building. Senate investigated and asked Nixon to turn over his taped conversations in his office. Nixon refused, claiming executive privilege (right to keep conversations private)
DECISION
Justices claimed executive privilege only applied to sensitive national security secrets & ordered him to turn over the tapes. They revealed he was involved in the cover-up. He resigned 4 days later.
Constitutional Principle - Rule of Law – No one is above the law. (1974)

14. Bush vs. Gore What happened DECISION 14th Amendment
2000 Presidential election came down to Florida. Many of Florida’s ballots were damaged or not marked properly. The Florida Supreme Court ordered all ballots to be recounted, but the lawyers for Bush appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
DECISION
Ordered recount to stop due to “minimal procedural safeguards” of the statewide recount. Ballots would not be provided “equal protection” for all Florida citizens. Bush declared President.
14th Amendment
Equal Protection Clause