Supreme Court Cases

U. S. v. Nixon Background: Background: Watergate Hotel; burglars break into Democratic Party headquarters. White House staff are charged with the crime. Prosecutor found out President Nixon taped conversations with his staff. Nixon is ordered to turn over the tapes. President refuses. Prosecutor sues the President in order to have him turn over the tapes. Watergate Hotel; burglars break into Democratic Party headquarters. White House staff are charged with the crime. Prosecutor found out President Nixon taped conversations with his staff. Nixon is ordered to turn over the tapes. President refuses. Prosecutor sues the President in order to have him turn over the tapes. Issue: Issue: Separation of powers. Does the executive branch have the privilege to withhold information from criminal investigation (judicial branch). Separation of powers. Does the executive branch have the privilege to withhold information from criminal investigation (judicial branch). Decision: Decision: Executive privileges are subordinate to the due process rights of criminal investigations. Executive privileges are subordinate to the due process rights of criminal investigations.

Miranda v. Arizona Background Poor Mexican immigrant Ernesto Miranda was arrested for kidnapping. After two hours of interrogation the police emerged with a signed confession. Ernesto was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Poor Mexican immigrant Ernesto Miranda was arrested for kidnapping. After two hours of interrogation the police emerged with a signed confession. Ernesto was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Issue: Police never told Miranda of his Fifth amendment rights to remain silent and the right to counsel. Issue: Police never told Miranda of his Fifth amendment rights to remain silent and the right to counsel.

Decision: Supreme court ruled that the confession would not be admitted because he was not aware of his rights. Decision: Supreme court ruled that the confession would not be admitted because he was not aware of his rights.

New Jersey v. T.L.O. 14 yr old student was caught smoking in the restroom. Student was taken to the Vice Principle’s office. The student said she did not smoke. The students was then asked to open her purse. Marijuana, money. List of students, rolling papers and a pipe were found in her possession. 14 yr old student was caught smoking in the restroom. Student was taken to the Vice Principle’s office. The student said she did not smoke. The students was then asked to open her purse. Marijuana, money. List of students, rolling papers and a pipe were found in her possession. Issue: Did the search violate the students 4 th Amendment right to be protected from unreasonable searches. Issue: Did the search violate the students 4 th Amendment right to be protected from unreasonable searches.

Decision: There was reasonable cause to search the students purse due to a well founded suspicion that the student was smoking. The items found in the students purse were in plain view which allowed the Principle to continue the search to determine the nature of the students drug related activity. Decision: There was reasonable cause to search the students purse due to a well founded suspicion that the student was smoking. The items found in the students purse were in plain view which allowed the Principle to continue the search to determine the nature of the students drug related activity.

Plessy v. Ferguson Mulatto Homer Plessy was jailed for sitting in the “whites only” section of the East Louisiana train. Mulatto Homer Plessy was jailed for sitting in the “whites only” section of the East Louisiana train. Issue: Plessy argued that his 14 th amendment rights were violated. That he did not receive equal protection under the law. Issue: Plessy argued that his 14 th amendment rights were violated. That he did not receive equal protection under the law. Decision: Decision: Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal facilities were constitutional under the law.

Korematsu v. United States World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan, Japanese Americans were forced to live in relocation camps by a Presidential executive order. Fred Korematsu refused to leave his Italian girlfriend he was arrested and convicted. World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan, Japanese Americans were forced to live in relocation camps by a Presidential executive order. Fred Korematsu refused to leave his Italian girlfriend he was arrested and convicted. Issue: Being forced to live in camps violated Korematsu’s civil liberties Issue: Being forced to live in camps violated Korematsu’s civil liberties Decision: Supreme Court ruled that it was Constitutional to detain Japanese American due to the circumstances of the war. Decision: Supreme Court ruled that it was Constitutional to detain Japanese American due to the circumstances of the war.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeir Three students of Hazelwood High sued the Principle over their first amendment right. Students were on newspaper staff and wrote articles on teen pregnancy and divorce. Principle did not allow the pages to be printed. Three students of Hazelwood High sued the Principle over their first amendment right. Students were on newspaper staff and wrote articles on teen pregnancy and divorce. Principle did not allow the pages to be printed. Issue: The first amendment Issue: The first amendment Decision: Decision: Supreme Court ruled that students do not have first amendment freedom rights that are not consistent with the educational mission of the school. Lasting Impact: Students do not have the same first amendment rights in a school setting that they would outside the school. Supreme Court ruled that students do not have first amendment freedom rights that are not consistent with the educational mission of the school. Lasting Impact: Students do not have the same first amendment rights in a school setting that they would outside the school.

Engle v. Vitale New York Board of Regents required all students in public school to start off their day with a daily prayer. New York Board of Regents required all students in public school to start off their day with a daily prayer. Issue: Was this a violation of the first amendment Establishment Clause? Issue: Was this a violation of the first amendment Establishment Clause? Decision: Decision: Supreme Court ruled states cannot force prayer on students, this is a violation of the Establishment Clause. Supreme Court ruled states cannot force prayer on students, this is a violation of the Establishment Clause.

Mapp v. Ohio Police enter Dollie Mapp’s home looking for a bombing suspect. She ask for a search warrant, they handcuff her and search through her home. Officers found pornography and arrest Mapp for possession of obscene materials. Police enter Dollie Mapp’s home looking for a bombing suspect. She ask for a search warrant, they handcuff her and search through her home. Officers found pornography and arrest Mapp for possession of obscene materials. Issue: Did the search violate her 4 th amendment right? Issue: Did the search violate her 4 th amendment right? Decision: Decision: Supreme Court ruled evidence could not be allowed in court because no search warrant was used. Exclusionary Rule Supreme Court ruled evidence could not be allowed in court because no search warrant was used. Exclusionary Rule

Texas v. Johnson Greg Johnson was against the reelection of Ronald Reagan. In protest Johnson burns an American flag. Greg Johnson was against the reelection of Ronald Reagan. In protest Johnson burns an American flag. Issue: Issue: Was the burning of the flag a form of symbolic speech protected under the first amendment. Decision: Burning the flag is protected under the first amendment even though society may find it offensive.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas Linda Brown has to walk to school five miles from her home crossing train switching grounds. The school was run down also. There is another school four blocks away close to her home but it is an all white school. Everything in Topeka is segregated. Linda’s dad wants his daughter to be able to attend the school close to her home. Linda Brown has to walk to school five miles from her home crossing train switching grounds. The school was run down also. There is another school four blocks away close to her home but it is an all white school. Everything in Topeka is segregated. Linda’s dad wants his daughter to be able to attend the school close to her home. Issue: 14 th amendment; equal protection under the law. Is separate but equal facilities constitutional? Issue: 14 th amendment; equal protection under the law. Is separate but equal facilities constitutional? Decision: Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal was not constitutional in public facilities. Decision: Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal was not constitutional in public facilities.