Supreme Court Cases
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Transcript of Supreme Court Cases
SUPREME COURT CASES
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
William Marbury was commissioned Justice of the Peace of the District of Columbia at the end of President John Adam’s term.
New President Thomas Jefferson instructed his Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver the orders—keeping the opposing party from taking office.
Marbury v. Madison
The Supreme Court evaluated this based on the foundation of checks and balances.
This established the concept of judicial review.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Dred Scott was a slave owned by Army Major John Emerson
Scott travelled with Emerson to various states, including several free states
Upon the death of Emerson, Scott sued for his freedom
Emerson’s widow Eliza’s brother John Sandford was in charge of the will
Dred Scott v. Sandford
The Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott
He was not a citizen and therefore could not sue
They also determined Scott was not a free man
Obviously this is a black mark for the Supreme Court.
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
Fred Korematsu was a Japanese American citizen that was ordered into an internment camp through President Roosevelt’s executive order after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Korematsu attempted to avoid being interned.
Korematsu v. United States
Korematsu argued he was being discriminated against based on his race.
The government argued they needed to protect the country
The Supreme Court agreed that the need to protect the country was greater than protecting an individual’s rights.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
The parents of Linda Brown wanted their daughter to attend the closest public school in Topeka, Kansas—not the black school that was farther away.
They argued that this segregation violated the fourteenth amendment
Brown v. Board of Education
While segregation was legal under Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Court sided with the Brown family.
Linda was able to attend the school closest to her and the Civil Rights movement was strengthened.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Ernesto Miranda was arrested, but was not informed of his fifth and sixth amendment rights.
He and his lawyer eventually sued the state of Arizona.
The Court agreed and now all police must take the proper steps by issuing the Miranda Warning.
The Miranda Warning
Roe v. Wade (1973)
Jane Roe was an unmarried and pregnant resident of Texas who wanted an abortion
In 1970s Texas, abortions were illegal unless the mother’s life was in jeopardy
Henry Wade was the Dallas County district attorney
Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court ruled in Roe’s favor They said her rights were
guaranteed in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th Amendments
This also eliminated any state laws that prohibited first trimester abortions
Norma McCorvey later came forward and admitted she was Jane Roe
New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985)
Do schools have the right to search a student’s private property? What reasons do they have to have to search?
This case was based on two girls that were caught smoking in the bathroom—instead of in the designated area.
T.L.O. was the pseudonym for Tracy Lois Odem who denied smoking and had her purse searched.
New Jersey v. T.L.O.
In addition to the cigarettes, the assistant vice principal also found drugs and other items that showed T.L.O. was dealing marijuana.
The Court sided with the school, although they agreed a “reasonable suspicion” was needed to perform a search.
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Gregory Johnson doused an American flag with kerosene and set it on fire during a political protest and demonstration in Texas.
Is this protected under the first amendment?
Texas v. Johnson
Johnson (on the right) offended a lot of people by burning this symbol of America.
The Supreme Court sided with Johnson and said this symbolic speech was protected
Tinker v. Des Moines
Defined the Constitutional rights of students in U.S. public schools
Students John F. Tinker, Mary Beth Tinker, and Christopher Eckhardt worn black armbands to school, protesting the Vietnam War
Before wearing the arm bands, the school found out and created a policy stating anyone wearing an armband would be removed immediately
All three wore armbands and were suspended from school
Tinker v. Des Moines
7-2 majority opinion stating that First Amendment rights apply in schools, unless constitutionally sound reasons were given to limit the First Amendment
Your First Amendment right is protected in school as long as it does not cause a disruption