-
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
School board required students to salute the flag and if they didn't they were sent home, threatened by the school, and parents faced prosecutions. Court overruled that it was unconstitutional and the first amendment cannot enforce unanimity to certain topics like national flags. -
Mapp v. Ohio
A fugitive, Dollree Mapp was convicted for possession of foul materials, and police did an illegal search of her home. The court favored Mapp side and put aside the first amendment. The fourth amendment was violated for illegal search of her home without warrant. -
Engel v. Vitale
Group of parents from New Hyde Park, New York, brought a complaint about prayer everyday at the beginning of school. Supreme Court ruled that school-sponsored prayer violated the first amendment. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
Clarence Earl Gideon was charged by the Florida state court for breaking and entering and was sentenced 5 years in prison. This habeas corpus stated the court violated his rights to be represented by counsel and it was denied. The court said that the sixth amendment guarantee of counsel is essential right made by the states by the fourteenth amendment. -
NY Times v. Sullivan
NY Times posted a donation to the MLK Jr. perjury charges. Commissioner Sullivan told them to retract the info because it was punitive damage under Alabama law. They refused and a group of blacks and NY Times were awarded $500,000 in damages. The Supreme Court ruled that the 1st amendment freedom of speech protections limits the ability of public officials to due. -
Griswold v. Connecticut
Connecticut passed a law where they banned drugs, medical devices, or other instruments. The planned parenthood created a birth control clinic and they were arrested for violating the law. The supreme court invalidated the law that made it a crime to use birth control or advice to use it. -
Miranda v. Arizona
Police came into Ernesto Miranda and arrested him for rape and kidnapping. He confessed he did through the police, jury, and court. 5-4 concluding that the defendant interrogation violated the fifth amendment because he agreed to the rights of an attorney and speaking put the police rejected. -
Loving v. Virginia
Mildred Jeter, a black women and her husband Richard Loving were charged with violating the states inter-racial marriages statutes. They were sentence for one year in jail. The court struck down state laws that banned marriage between two different races. They also held that Virginia violated the 14th amendment due to process clause. -
Tinker vs. Des Moines
Students from Des Moines school district were suspended by public school for wearing black arm bands in protest for Vietnam War. Supreme Court ruled that public schools can't censor student expression unless it invades peoples rights or disrupts school activities. -
Brandenburg v. Ohio
One of the KKK leaders, Brandenburg was convicted under Ohio criminal syndicalism law for having a speech at a speech a Klan rally. The law made it illegal for violent methods of terrorism with any person or group. The court decided that the speech was protected under the first amendment. -
NY Times v US
"Pentagon Papers Case" attempted to prevent NY Times and Washington post from publishing history of US activities in Vietnam War. The president argued that it protected national security. The court decided that it defended the 1st amendment rights to free press against prior restraint by gov. -
Furman v. Georgia
A person found Furman breaking into their private home, and he attempted to escape the scene and tripped, triggering his gun and killing the resident. He was sentenced a death penalty in prison. The court stated that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment. Some judges thought it should only be used in certain circumstances and others don't think it should be used at all. -
Roe v. Wade
Jane Roe filed law suit against Henry Wade for making abortion illegal unless by saving a women life by doctor order. She found that this invaded her personal privacy, 1st, 4th, 5fth, 9th, and 14th amendment. Texas law violated the right of choice and 7-2 opinion that women should have a choice unless after certain trimesters its up with the women, her physician, and the law in order to save a life or other personal reasons. -
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Rhode Island and Pennsylvania used unconstitutional statutes of religion to provide better education. The supreme court stated that "the two states violated the establishment clause by making state financial aid available to “church-related educational institutions.” -
Gregg v. Georgia
Gregg was found guilty for armed robbery and murder. They sentenced him to death. Gregg claimed that it was an cruel and unusual punishment and violated the 8th and 14th amendment. In a 7-2 the court decided that death didn't violate those two. Extreme cases cases it should be used, like when someone kills another. -
New Jersey v. TLO
School searched T.L.O.'s bag thinking she had cigarettes. The school officials found weed, cigarettes, and a list of people who owed them money. The states that she denied them to look through her bag and they did anyway. The court held that the 14th amendment prohibits unreasonable searches but under their authority they may conduct warrantless searches in certain circumstances. -
Texas v. Johnson
Gregory Lee Johnson in front of Dallas City Hall, burned an American flag to protest Reagan Administration policies. He was sentenced to a year in jail and a $2000 fine. The court stated that burning the flag was protected under the first amendment. -
Employment Division v. Smith
Two counselors for private drug rehabilitation of the Native American Church ingested peyote, a powerful hallucinogen as a part of their religious ceremonies. The organization fired the two for work related misconduct. Supreme Court of Oregon found that it violated the use of illegal drugs but this prohibition violated the right to free religion exercise. -
Church of Lukumi Babalu v. Hialeah
The church practiced Afro-Caribbean-based religion of Santeria. They would sacrifice an animal, cut the arties, and eat it as a part of worship. Then Florida city counsel adopted an ordinance that prohibited the possession of animals for sacrifice. Supreme Court ruled that laws targeting specific religions violate the free exercise clause of the First Amendment. -
Morse v. Frederick
Joseph Frederick held up a sign that said, "Bong hits 4 Jesus" at a school-supervised event. A teacher took it away because it promoted the use of illegal drugs. In 5-4 the court stated that school officials can prohibit symbols of drugs but one argued that students should have some political speech in school. The court finally ruled that the first amendment doesn't prevent school admins from restricting student expression. -
DC v. Heller
District of Columbia made it illegal to carry unregistered guns and gun owners had to have the firearms unloaded. Dick Anthony Heller was authorized to carry a handgun on duty, as a police officer. He applied for one year license but it got denied. He sued DC for violation of second amendment, right to bear arms. The supreme court ruled that the 2nd allows individuals to carry a license gun even under law. -
McDonald v. Chicago
Chicago and Oak Park had many suit filed against them and challenging their gun bans after DC v. Heller. The district dismissed the second amendment rule. The supreme court ruled that 2nd applies to state and local governments as well. -
Snyder v. Phelps
After passing of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, the family filed a lawsuit against Westboro Baptist Church, who protested at his funeral. The supreme court ruled that the protest is protected by the first amendment. Although the judges agree with majority of the case, one says, "I do not believe that our First Amendment analysis can stop at that point." -
Obergefell v. Hodges
Groups of same-sex couples came to together from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee to challenge the states that banned same-sex marriage or refused to recognize LGBTQ community. They argued that the states violated the Equal Protection Clause and Due to Process Clause of 14th amendment. The court held that the states are required to license and follow same-sex marriage. -
Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.
A student from Mahanoy Area High School tried out for the varsity cheer team and didn't make it, only making the junior varsity. B.L. later posted on snap "f*** school f*** softball f*** cheer f*** everything". Some of the cheer team from her team saw it and approached the coach and she was suspended from the team for a year. B.L. alleged they violated the 1st amendment. The court finalized that the school district violated the first amendment because she profaned off campus.
