Supreme Court Cases

1. Supreme Court Cases

2. 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.

3. Marbury v. Madison • The Supreme Court evaluated this based on the foundation of checks and balances. • This established the concept of judicial review.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The Miranda Warning

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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?

17. 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