U.S Supreme Court Cases Francesca Reis Isabel Pittman Pierce Robinson Frias Shihady

Nix, Warden of the Iowa State Penitentiary v. Williams 467 U.S. 431 Nix V. Williams was argued on January 18, 1984 and decided June 11, 1984.

Facts about Nix V. Williams: Included the 4 th Amendment. Williams was a mental patient that escaped then kidnapped and murdered ten year old Pamela Powers. He then surrendered to police two days later on condition. That condition stated that he may not be interrogated. However, he had a conversation with a detective revealing where he had left the body of Pamela Powers. A court decision that created “inevitable discovery” exception to exclusionary rule, which makes most evidence gathered through violations of the fourth amendment which protects against unreasonable search and seizure inadmissible in criminal trials as “fruit of the poisonous tree”.

Lastly in this case, The evidence of Pamela’s body was found within ten feet of the search party. Later, it was said the sixth amendment was in violation because of the right to council. What do you think the court should decide?

The Final decision: The court ruled in favor 7-2. The court ruled in his favor because, the detective received information without William’s attorney present arguing that it had violated William’s own personal rights through the 6 th amendment. However, he was convicted of 1 st degree murder. In Brewer V. Williams, the court ruled that his 6 th amendment had been violated. William’s conviction had been reversed. However, still stated evidence provided by Williams could still be used against him. Majority: Burger joined by White, Blackmun, Powell, Rehnquist, and O’ Connor. Concurrance: White and Stevens. Dissent: Brennan joined by Marshall.

Clarence E. Gideon V. Louie L. Wainwright 372 U.S. 335 Gideon V. Wainwright was argued on January 15, 1963 and decided on March 18, 1963.

Facts about this landmark case: Included the 6 th and 4 th Amendments. Later overturned Betts V. Brady (1942). Gideon was accused of stealing money out of a cigarette dispenser and a cash register in a bar. Gideon wasn’t given representation in court by the state of Florida because he was not charged with a capital punishment. Bay County Court sentenced Gideon five years in prison for petty larceny. Included three separate concurrences.

Before we reveal the final court decision, what do you think about this case?

The Final Decision: The court ruled unanimously in favor of Clarence E. Gideon 9-0. The right to a lawyer was infringed due to Gideon’s financial situation and because the due process clause was broken by depriving Gideon of his liberty, the court ruled in his favor 9-0. Majority: H. Black was joined by E. Warren, W. Brennan, P. Stewart, B. White, and A. Goldberg.

New Jersey v. T.L.O. 469 U.S. 325 This case was argued on March 28, 1984 and decided on January 15, 1985.

Facts about this case: This court case includes the 4 th amendment. Tracy Lois Odem was caught smoking with her best friend in her school’s bathroom by her teacher. Although her friend admitted to the crime, Tracy did not. Tracy Odem’s school does not allow smoking. Tracey Odem was then forced to hand over her purse to her principle. Cigarettes, marijuana, little bags, a pipe, a list of clients, and a large quantity of money in $5.00 bills was discovered.

More facts about this case: In order to perform a search on a student, a school official is required to have “reasonable suspicion” and since she was caught breaking school rules by smoking, it was reasonable to assume she was carrying the cigarettes herself. The drug- related evidence was in plain view. “plain view” is an exception to the warrant requirement of the 4 th Amendment. Although the principle was wrong in searching through Tracy’s purse, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling.

The Final Decision: The court ruled a 6-3 decision against T.LO. Tracy Oden was expelled then convicted of dealing and the use of illicit drugs. She was also fined $1,000.

Estelle T. Griswold and C. Lee Buxton V. Connecticut 381 U.S. 479 This court case was argued on March 29, 1965 and decided on june 7, 1965.

Facts about this Landmark case: This was considered a “right to privacy” case. This case includes the 9 th amendment. Based on an 1879 Connecticut law banning use of contraceptives called the “Comstock law”.

What do you think the court should rule as the final decision?

THE FINAL DECISION: The court ruled a 7-2 decision. The Supreme court ruled that a state’s ban on the use of contraceptives violated the right to marital privacy. Privacy is protected by due process clause of the 14 th amendment which Goldberg and Harlan stated.