Aim: What social impacts came about due to the decisions of the Warren Court? Do Now: a) Finish up Rights Movement Packet b) Earl Warren Background Homework: a) Complete Regents Review Sheet #2 – The United States Constitution (Pages 6-9) due Tomorrow b) Regents Review Quiz #1 – Tomorrow (Review Sheets #1 )
Earl Warren Earl Warren was the 14th chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, who presided during a period of sweeping changes in United States constitutional law, especially in the areas of race relations, criminal procedure, and legislative apportionment (distribution). •Believed in judicial activism - judicial rulings suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law. •Chief Justice in Brown v. Board of Education – declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Mapp v. Ohio (1961) Issue: Is evidence obtained in violation of the search and seizure provision of the fourth Amendment admissible in a state court? (Right to Privacy/Unreasonable Search and Seizure) Decision: 6-3 Majority: The Supreme Court ruled that the use of evidence seized in an unwarranted search of an individual’s home violates the 4th and 14th Amendments Impact: It placed the requirement of excluding illegally obtained evidence from court at all levels of the government. The decision launched the Court on a troubled course of determining how and when to apply the exclusionary rule
Baker v. Carr (1962) Issue: Does the 1901 Tennessee statue violate the constitutional rights of these voters? Can the federal court take action on the constitutionality of a state statue apportioning state legislative seats? (Voters Rights, Federalism, Equal Protection) Decision: 6-2 Majority: The Court ruled that, under the 14th Amendment, seats in a state legislature must be apportioned on a population basis Impact: Leads to many other challenges of apportionment.
Engel v. Vitale (1962) Issue: New York state’s Board of Regents wrote and authorized a voluntary nondenominational prayer that could be recited by students at the beginning of each school day. Decision: The Supreme Court’s found New York’s law unconstitutional by a margin of 6–1 (two justices did not participate in the decision). Impact: That voluntary prayer in public schools violated the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment prohibition of a state establishment of religion.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) Issue: Should the state overrule Betts v. Brady (1942) and declare that the due process clause of the 14th Amendment obligates the states to apply the Sixth Amendment in all criminal Cases? (Due process, Right to an Attorney) Decision: 9-0: The Court ruled that the Sixth Amendment’s due process guarantee of the right to council applied to all felony cases and that the state government must provide a defense attorney for accused persons. Impact: Many people that were refused a lawyer were granted new trials – No defendant must face trial without legal counsel
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) Issue: If police do not tell a suspect of his/her right to have an attorney present during questioning, can any statement made without a lawyer present be admitted into evidence or do they violate the 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination? Decision: Declared Miranda’s confession was unlawfully obtained and so was not admissible as trial evidence Impact: Miranda Warnings must be told to suspects in custody before questioning
Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) Issue: Is the peaceful wearing of armbands by students attending public schools to protest the nation's involvement in war freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment? Decision: By a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court overturned the judgment of the lower courts and ruled in favor of the First Amendment rights of public school students Impact: Student civil liberties are not left at the school house gate.
Sum It Up!!!!!!!!! Which Supreme Court case decided by the Warren Court do you believe had the greatest impact on the United States? Please use text based evidence from the presentations to support your opinion.