Cases of the Court

Marbury v. Madison

Feb 23, 1803

• Marbury sued Jefferson because he did not receive a paper that was needed for court. Marbury didn't deliver al of the papers in time.
  • Although John Marshall was the person who didn't deliver the papers in time, Marbury was able to sue.
  • This case shows how important the court system is.

McCullouch v. Maryland

Mar 7, 1819

• The U.S created a bank, which many argued, was unconstitutional. In the constitution, it does not state that the act was okay.
• It was proven that the bank was okay to create because the constitution is not taken literally.
• We now have banks that help us out with money and we pay taxes.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Mar 6, 1857

• Dred Scott was a man who was a slave and believed he was free after his slave master died. He believed he was free because he moved to a slave free state afterwards. Scott was taken to jail.
• Scott was guilty because he was born into a state where slavery was okay. Scott couldn't fight the system because of the time period and his skin color. He was still a slave.
• This case shows people how life was back then and how difficult it was to become a free slave.

Plessy v. Fegueson

May 18, 1896

• Plessy was a man who made got on a white train cart. He was one eighth black; however, in the eyes of everyone else, he was still black. He was arrested for violating the separate car act. Plessy argued that his thirteenth and fourteenth amendments were violated.
• Plessy was found guilty for violation. Even though many thought the act as a whole was wrong, it was the rules during that time period.
• This case was noticed worldwide because it made blacks see how wrong things were then.

Korematsu v. U.S.

Dec 18, 1944

• Japanese people were discriminated against based on race. They were told that they had to move to camps to be with "their kind" in which a man tried to trick others to believe he wasn't Japanese. He told many he was Mexican- American to avoid being sent away.
• In this case, Korematsu was charged for an executive order. He lied about his race to get a fair chance at life. His case was appealed.
• This case bought discrimination to everyone’s attention. Japanese people were heard.

Brown v. Board of Ed Topeka KS

May 17, 1954

• Many both agreed and disagreed that separate classes for blacks and whites was okay. Blacks and whites were to have equality; however, parents didn't want them to interact with each other in the classrooms. - The "idea" was shot down and both races were to be taught together. - Without this case, I would have to be in a separate class. Race would define everything.

Mapp v. Ohio

Jun 19, 1961

• In this case, Dollree Mapp was arrested for the founding’s of inappropriete things in the trunk of her car. However, police did not have a warrant to enter the house or search through her belongings.
  
• Mapp argued that both her fourth and fourteenth amendment were violated, bolice are allowed to search your homes if there is a reasonable cause.
• Now everyone knows you can be filed with items in plain site.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Mar 18, 1963

• Gideon was a homeless man who was accused of robbing the Bay Harbor Pool Room. He was taken to trial and lost; however, he wanted to have a re-try. He wrote his own letter to the jury explaining his innocence.
• Gideon was proven innocent after given a better lawyer. He did much better than his first trial. During the second trial, the court witnessed the cross examination which later showed that the witness before hand was guilty.
  • This case shows us that the court does mess up.

Miranda v. Arizona

Jun 13, 1966

• Miranda was a boy who was accused of raping and kidnapping a woman. He was questioned in a room for two hours where he admitted his wrong doings. He was then arrested on both counts.
• During the questioning, Miranda asked for his attorney and one was not appointed to him. Therefore, his sixth amendment was violated along with his fifth. He was not informed that he had a right not to speak at all.
• Now, everyone is informed their rights.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Feb 24, 1969

• Tinker was a case that fought for the rights of students. In this case, a girl decided to wear wristbands to fight against American involvement in the Vietnam War. When she wore them to school, she was told that she and anyone else who wore them the next day would be suspended. They did and they were.
• Tinker argued that her first amendment was violated. The wristbands were counted as symbolic speech, which is allowed to all citizens.
• Students have a right to say what they believe.

Roe v. Wade

Jan 22, 1973

• In this case, Roe was a woman who wanted to get an abortion. She fought for her rights and against those who believed she was doing the wrong thing. Jane Roe informed everyone that her first, fourth, fifth, ninth, and fourteenth amendments were violated.
• Roe won this case. People fought to prove that the constitution states a right to privacy; however, that abortion was not apart of that right.
• Now, women can have an abortion if they believe it will help them.

NJ v. T.L.O

Jan 15, 1985

• In this case, a students rights were violated, specifically her fourth amendment. She was accused of smoking in the school. T.L.O was then arrested after the principle found marijuana and cigarettes.
  • T.L.O was found guilty. It was argued that once you are on school grounds, nothing of yours is "private," School officials have a right to search through all belongings and a warrant is NOT needed.
• This case has shown that the school doesn't need a warrant,

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

Jan 13, 1988

• A book club was told to remove two articles that contained inappropriate writing. These two articles were about teen pregnancy and divorce. The students argued that their first amendment was in violation.- The student’s request was not passed because the principle has a right to be concerned which the court agreed with. Kids who are younger could have seen it and the parents would then have complaints. - Now students have to watch what they put in papers because of the viewers.

Texas v. Johnson

Jun 21, 1989

• Many believe that burning a flag is an example of symbolic speech. This subject was argued over because people thought the scene would cause an up roar. A man named Gregory Lee was sentenced to one year and a fine for flag burning; however, his first amendment was violated.
• The court agreed that this was a sign of symbolic speech. According to the first amendment, everyone is entitled to his/her free speech right.
• People on my opinion may take advantage of this right but we can't stop it.