1. Recent Supreme Court Rulings
GAHS Social Studies Department

2. 2009 – 2010 Term Rulings have come down from the bench…

3. McDonald v. Chicago 2nd Amendment Issue

4. Facts of the Case:
76 year old Otis
McDonald of
Chicago sued
the city
He believed the city’s ban on
handgun ownership was
unconstitutional

5. Can a city restrict gun ownership?
Question:
Can a city restrict gun ownership?
(Is the right to bear
arms a personal right?)

6. Decision: The Court ruled 5 – 4 that the right to own a firearm
was a personal right

7. 2010 – 2011 Term

8. Albert Snyder v. Westboro Baptist Church 1st Amendment Issue

9. Facts of the Case: Snyder's son died in a Humvee accident in Iraq
-Members of the
Westboro Church and others protested
his funeral
-They believe military deaths are result
of America tolerating of homosexuality

10. Do citizens have to right to hold protests at military funerals?
Question:
Do citizens have to right to hold protests at military funerals?

11. Decision: The Court ruled 8-1 in favor the Westboro Church
- Their speech related to a public issue—they were on a public sidewalk

12. 2011 – 2012 Term

13. Thomas More Law Center v. Barack H
Thomas More Law Center v. Barack H. Obama (along with several other similar suits)

14. Facts of the Case:
-26 States & several groups filed suits against the Obama Administration
Challenging the Affordable Care Act
(Obama Care)

15. Question:
Is the “individual mandate”—the section requiring Americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or pay a fine—unconstitutional?

16. Decision:
In a 5 to 4 vote, the court upheld most of the Affordable Care Act—ruling the “individual mandate” was constitutional since it amounts to a tax.

17. 2012 – 2013 Term

18. United States v. Windsor (Defense of Marriage Act Case)

19. Facts of the Case :
-Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage for federal purposes as unions exclusively between a man and woman
Same sex couples do not qualify for
most federal benefits

20. Question:
Does the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violate the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause?

21. In a 5 to 4 vote, the court found DOMA unconstitutional
Decision:
In a 5 to 4 vote, the court found DOMA unconstitutional

22. 2013 – 2014 Term Cases likely to be decided in 2014
48 appeals are currently on the docket

23. Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (14th Amendment)

24. Facts of the Case :
-Michigan voters approved an amendment prohibiting race- and sex-based discrimination or preferential treatment in public–university admission decisions
-It ended racial preferences
for minorities applying for college

25. Question:
Does Michigan’s ban on racial preferences violate the Equal Protection Clause?

26. Town of Greece v. Galloway (1st Amendment)

27. -Greece, NY, opens it’s monthly town hall meetings with prayer
Facts of the Case :
-Greece, NY, opens it’s monthly town hall meetings with prayer
-Most of those offering the
prayers are Christian, but
they also have invited
Wiccan, Baha’i, and Jewish
leaders

28. Does prayer at a government meeting violate the Establishment Clause?
Question:
Does prayer at a government meeting violate the Establishment Clause?

29. Other Important Cases NLRB v. Noel Canning:
Were Obama's recess appointments to a
federal agency valid?
Liberty University v. Lew, et. al.
Should private businesses be required to
provide health insurance that includes
birth control (Obama Care)?
U.S. v. Wurie and Riley v. California
Must police obtain a warrant to search the
cell phone of a person under arrest?

30. The End