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