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warren court
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Roth v. United States
The Court, in its first consideration of censorship of obscenity, created the “prevailing community standards” rule, which required a consideration of the work as a whole. In its decision, the Court defined as obscene that which offends “the average person, applying contemporary community standards.” -
Mapp v. Ohio
the admission of evidence gained by illegal searches was permitted by some state constitutions. Cleveland police raided Mapp's home without a warrant and found obscene materials. She appealed her conviction, saying that the 4th and 14th amendments protected her against improper police behavior. The Court agreed, extending “exclusionary rule” protections to citizens in state courts. -
Baker v. Carr
was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that retreated from the Court's political question doctrine, deciding that reapportionment (attempts to change the way voting districts are delineated) issues present justiciable questions, thus enabling federal courts to intervene in and to decide reapportionment cases. -
Engel v. Vitale
In New York, it was required to say a nonsectarian prayer at the start of each school day. A group of parents filed a suit against the prayer claiming it was in violation of their children's First Amendment Rights. The Court ruled the prayer was "unconstitutional" since religious beliefs are recited in the prayer. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
Gideon was charged with breaking into a poolroom. He couldn't afford a lawyer and Florida refused to provide counsel for trials not involving the death penalty. Gideon defended himself poorly and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. The Court called for a new trial, arguing that the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment applied to the 6th Amendment's guarantee of counsel for all poor persons facing a felony charge. Gideon later was found not guilty with the help of a court-appointed attorney. -
Reynolds v. Sims
Most states have constitutional provisions to reapportion representation in their state legislatures every ten years, based on the U.S. Census. By the 1950s, however, it had become clear that some states were ignoring these laws. The United States was becoming more urban, and one-time rural majorities—now minorities—were holding on to political power at the state level by refusing to reapportion. A complaint was filed challenging the apportionment of the Alabama legislature. -
Escobedo v. Illinois
A person known to Chicago-area police confessed to a murder but had not been provided with a lawyer while under interrogation. The Court's decision in the case extended the “exclusionary rule” to illegal confessions in state court proceedings. -
Griswold v. Connecticut
The director of Planned Parenthood, Griswold, was arrested for counseling married couples since he was considered to be "preventing conception". The courts ended up overturning the law since "various guarantees of the Constitution create zones of privacy". -
Miranda v. Arizona
Miranda was arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault. He had signed a confession saying he also had full knowledge of his legal rights. He was convicted, but had later appealed saying his confession was unlegally obtained since he was unaware of his rights. The court agreed that he must be warned prior to any questioning that he has the right to remain silent, that anything he says can be used against him in a court of law, that he has the right to an attorney.