SCOTUS CASES Flashcards
memorize these cases!
Gideon v Wainright (1963)
INFO:
- Gideon robbed a cigarette machine
- Wasn’t given a lawyer because it wasn’t a capital offense
- He was assigned as his own lawyer and was convicted
Gideon’s favor - the 6th Amendment‘s provision for a lawyer does apply to the states via the 14th Amendment’s EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE
IMPACT: emphasized selective incorporation, 6th amendment incorporated into states, states required to fund public defense lawyers
Equal Protection Clause
“No State shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
INFO:
- suits filed against Illinois challenging gun bans
- ban violated 2nd amendment
- The 2nd amendment should also apply to states
McDonald’s favor - 2nd Amendment does apply to states (DUE PROCESS CLAUSE)
IMPACT: Changed the interpretation of the 2nd amendment and regulation of guns
Due Process Clause
“No person shall be ‘deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.’”
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
INFO:
- New York authorized a school prayer at the beginning of the school day
- Groups challenged the prayer
- Violated the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment
Engel’s favor - Public schools cannot hold prayers even if they are optional and not tied to a particular religion due to the ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE.
IMPACT: furthered religious neutrality, applied the Establishment Clause/1st Amendment to the states
Establishment Clause
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
NY Times Company v. US (1971)
INFO:
- Nixon Administration attempted to prevent the New York Times from publishing classified materials belonging to a Defense Department study regarding the history of United States activities in Vietnam
- Nixon said it was necessary to protect national security
NYT’s favor - the federal government does not have the authority to force a state to enact specific laws
IMPACT: states have authority over their territory to regulate their political affairs without interference from fed govt.
Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
INFO:
- Students wanted to wear black arm bands to protest against the Vietnam War
- Principal threatened to suspend students for disrupting learning
- parents cited 1st Amendment freedom of speech being violated
Tinker’s favor - neither students nor teachers “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression at the schoolhouse gate.”
IMPACT: students/children have their right to freedom of speech, First Amendment applies to public schools.
Schenck v. US (1919)
INFO:
- Charles Schenck printed and distributed 15,000 pamphlets to the public in opposition to the draft
- Socialists argued draft was unconstitutional and should not be obeyed due to 13th Amendment prohibition against involuntary servitude
- was convicted of violating the 1917 Espionage Act
US’s favor - the Espionage Act did not violate the First Amendment and was an appropriate exercise of Congress’ wartime authority.
IMPACT: freedom of speech and press could only be limited if they created a clear and present danger
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
INFO:
- Amish people were prosecuted under Wisconsin law for not sending their children to school until they were at least 16
- they argued that high school attendance was contrary to their religious beliefs
Yoder’s favor - The Court found that the values and programs of secondary school were in sharp conflict with the Amish religion
IMPACT: an individual’s religious interests supersede a state’s interests in compulsory education per the FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE of the First Amendment.
Free Exercise Clause
protects individuals’ right to practice their religion without government interference.
