Landmark Court Cases Summaries
Did the supreme court have the power to give Marbury his job?
What is Marbury v Madison? and NO!
Brown v the Board of Education
This case established the concept of judicial review and the right of the Supreme Court to find laws and or actions unconstitutional
What is Marbury v. Madison?
Was the state court's failure to appoint a lawyer a violation the accused's right to a fair trial and due process of law as protected by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments?
What is Gideon v Wainwright? and YES
In re Gault
What is the 14th amendment; due process of the law AND equal protection clause?
This case made it clear that juveniles should receive the same due process process rights as adults
What is In re Gault?
Are people of African descent citizens of the U.S.?
What is Dred Scott v Sandford? and NO!
Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier
What is the 1st amendment; freedom of speech and freedom of the press?
This case declared that "separate but equal" was unconstitutional and overturned Plessy v Ferguson
What is Brown v. the Board of Education?
Does the segregation of children in public schools only on the basis of race deny the minority children of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment?
What is Brown v the Board of Education? and YES!
Miranda v Arizona
What is the 5th and 14th amendments; protection against self incrimination, AND due process of the law?
This case stated that "executive privilege" did not apply in withholding evidence in a criminal case. It helped to secure rule of law.
What is U.S. v Nixon?
Does the police practice of questioning individuals without notifying them of their right to a lawyer and their protection against self-incrimination violate the Fifth Amendment?
What is Miranda v Arizona? and YES!
U.S. v Nixon
What is executive privilege?
This case made it clear that defendants will be guaranteed an attorney if they cannot afford one, upholding and clarifying the 6th amendment, even in criminal cases at the state level.
What is Gideon v Wainwright?
Is the President's right to protect certain information, using his "executive privilege" power, completely protected from judicial review?
What is U.S. v Nixon? and NO!
Plessy v Ferguson
What is the 13th and 14th amendments; abolishing slavery AND equal protection clause (separate but equal ruling)
This case determined that 1st amendment rights for students could be limited if they disrupted the learning environment.
What is Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier?
Did the principal's deletion of the articles violate the students' rights under the First Amendment?
What is Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier? and NO!
Gideon v Wainwright
What is the 6th and 14th amendments; right to an attorney AND due process of the law AND equal protection clause
You must be read your rights when arrested, and be told that you have the right to remain silent as well as have an attorney present during questioning.
What is Miranda v Arizona?
Were the procedures used to commit [arrest] the accused constitutional under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
What is In re Gault? and NO!
Dred Scott v Sandford
What is NO constitutional principle! 13th and 14th amendments don't exist yet! Scott is not considered a citizen!
This case determined that "separate but equal" was constitutional and permitted states to make more laws, or "black codes", regarding segregating facilities.
What is Plessy v Ferguson
Is Louisiana's law requiring racial segregation on its trains an unconstitutional violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
What is Plessy v Ferguson? and NO!
Marbury v Madison
What is judicial review AND checks and balances?
This case determined that enslaved people were not U.S. citizens and therefore had not protections from the federal government or court system.
What is Dred Scott v Sandford?