US Supreme Court Cases

US Supreme Court Cases

1. 14th Amendment

   • 14th Amendment Simply stated, this amendment grants its citizens (either born or naturalized) equal protection under the law.  It allows people in the United States to: *speak freely *bear arms *protect themselves from unlawful search and seizure *the right to not incriminate themselves *the right to a criminal trialand*not be subjected to "cruel and unusual punishment" This is true for all citizens, no matter economic status, age, race, religion, or sex. 
   • 1st Amendment
     • Most recognized as  "Freedom of Speech", this amendment allows citizens the right to freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petitioning the government.
     • Engel v. Vitale
       • This case set precedent for mandatory prayer in schools.  Each day, in a New York public school, a nondenominational prayer was recited "acknowledging the dependence upon God."  The issue was:  Whether  school-sponsored nondenominational prayer violates the Establishment clause of the 1st Amendment.  The court ruled 6-1 (yes).  This is significant because it forced did not adhere to the separation of church and state.
   • 5th Amendment
     • ,A person may not be forced to provide incriminating evidence against oneself.  For example, when providing testimony against an accused, a person may abstain from relating an account of an illegal activity in which they too, participated thereby risking incriminating themselves.  Commonly known as "taking or pleading the 5th." 
     • Miranda v. Arizona
       • Arrested at home, identified by a witness, and signing a confession, Miranda was charged and found guilty of kidnapping and rape, and sentenced to 20-plus years. The appeal claims Miranda's rights were violated when obtaining the written confession.  The court disagreed.  Miranda was retried without Miranda's confession and found guilty a second time.  This case would go on to spark what we now know as the Miranda warning, advising suspects their right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, etc.
   • 2nd Amendment
     • The right of the people to "keep and bear arms." More simply, the right to own a gun (outside a militia) for the purpose of protecting one's home.
     • Heller v. The District of Columbia
       • In a 5-4 ruling, this case "endorsed the 'individual-right' theory" of the 2nd Amendment, and "rejected a rival interpretation of 'collective-right' theory" from an earlier decision on gun control and ownership.  This paved the way for licensed gun ownership for personal protection against potential home invasion.
   • 6th Amendment
     • Some examples of protections under the 6th amendment provide citizens the right to a speedy trial, the right to an attorney, the right to know their accusers' identity, and the right to know the nature of the charges being presented against them, to name a few.  These are important because an accused has the right to be informed of the status and standing of their case to ensure fair and unbiased actions throughout legal proceedings.
     • Batson v. Kentucky
       • In this case, the prosecutor used his peremptory challenges to remove all four African American jurors from the jury pool.  Batson challenged this action stating it violated his 6th amendment right to an impartial jury.  This is important because all citizens are allowed to be tried by an impartial jury of their peers.
   • 4th Amendment
     • This Amendment protects U.S. citizens from unlawful search and seizure.  In other words, law enforcement must acquire a search warrant prior to entering a home or vehicle, under the guise of unlawfully obtaining evidence.  As with any rule, there are exceptions.  Imminent danger (perhaps a fire), or the possible destruction of potential evidence (flushing drugs) 
     • Mapp v. Ohio
       • Police entered Mapp's home without obtaining a search warrant.  Obscene photos were found in a basement trunk, and the she was subsequently arrested.  The court ruled, 5-3, in favor of Mapp, stating the evidence was inadmissible because it was gathered unlawfully.
   • 8th Amendment
     • More commonly know by the term "cruel and unusual punishment" this amendment protects citizens with the  dispensing of punishment as well as the setting of excessive bonds.
     • Atkins v. Virginia
       • Daryl Atkins, labeled as mildly mentally disabled,  was convicted of abduction, armed robbery and murder in a Virginia court of law and sentenced to death.  This was later found to be "cruel and unusual punishment" due to Atkins' mental disability.