SUPREME COURT CASES

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The Miranda Warning

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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