-
Brown v. Board of Education
The National Association for the Advancment of Colored People disagreed with this ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson. In 1954, the Court reversed its Plessy decision, declaring that “separate schools are inherently unequal.” -
Cooper v. Aaron
Several government officials in the southern states refused to follow the Supreme Court’s brown v board of education decision. They argued that the states could nullify federal court decisions if they felt like they had the need to. The Court rejected the argument and made clear that only the federal courts can choose when the constitution is violated. -
Engel v. Vítale
In the New York school system, each day began with a nondenominational prayer acknowledging dependence upon God. This action was called out in Court as an unconstitutional state establishment of religion violation of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed, stating that the government could not support the religious activities. -
New York Times v. Sullivan
The New York Times was sued by the Montgomery, Alabama police commissioner for printing an advertisement containing some false statements. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the newspaper saying the right to publish all statements is protected under the First Amendment. -
Goss V. Lopez
Nine students at an Ohio public school received 10-day suspensions for disruptive behavior without due process protections. The Supreme Court ruled for the students, saying that once the state provides an education for all of its citizens, it cannot deprive them of it without ensuring due process protections. This case related to the students. -
Bethel School Distirct #43 v. Fraser
Matthew N. Fraser was a student which was suspended from Bethel High School for delivering a speech with bad language towards the student body. In this speech, he nominated his classmate for an elected school office. The Supreme Court held that his freedom of speech was not violated. -
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
The principal of Hazelwood East High School edited two articles in the school paper. The Spectrum that he deemed in inappropriate. The student authors argued that it violated the first amendment right which is freedom of speech. The Supreme Court disagreed, stating that administrators can edit materials that reflect school values. -
Board of Education of Independent School District #92 of Pottawatomie County v. Earls (2002)
In the Veronica School District v. Action (1995), the Supreme Court held that random drug tests of student athletes do not violate the Fourth Amendments prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures. Some schools then began to require drug tests of all students in other activities. The Supreme Court in Earls upheld this practice. -
Gutter v. Bollinger
Barbara Grutter alleged that her Equal Protection rights were violated when the University of Michigan Law Schools attempt to gain a diverse student body resulted in the denial of her admission application. The Supreme court denied it and held that institutions of higher education have a actual interest in promoting diversity. -
Roper v. Simmons
Matthew Simmons was sentenced to death for the murder of a woman when he was 17. In the 1988 case Thompson v. Oklahoma, the Supreme Court ruled that executing persons for crimes committed at age 15 or younger constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the 8th Amendment.
You are not authorized to access this page.