Supreme Court Cases Continued
Civics
Furman V Georgia 1972
• William Henry Furman convicted on Murder and
Sentenced to Death – Supreme Court hears his
and three other African American Death Penalty
Cases
• Is the Death Penalty Cruel and Unusual?
– Poor and Minorities more routinely receive the death
penalty
– Ga. Argues that it is permitted under due process
• Supreme Court rules 5-4 death penalty is
unconstitutional the way the states were
applying it.
Gregg v GA 1976
• Troy Gregg robs and kills two men
• GA allowed Jury to deliberate on the Death
Penalty as long as they felt it met Aggravating
circumstances.
• Gregg Sentenced to death and supreme court
upholds the sentence
Bethel School District v Fraser 1986
• Student gives a nomination speech at his
school to 600 students and makes lewd sexual
comments.
• Student is suspended and claims that his civil
rights were violated.
• Court upholds the suspension.
• Lewd and Vulgar Speech is not protected at
school.
Gibbons v Ogden 1984
• New York grants Aaron Ogden a monopoly to operate
its steam boats in NY Waters
• Thomas Gibbons also competed with Ogden and had a
Federal Coasting license
• Ogden sues Gibbons to make him stop using shared Ny
waters.
• Gibbons appeals to the Supreme Court claiming only
Federal Government has a right to regulate interstate
commerce
• Commerce Clause
• Supreme Court rules that Federal government has
Supremacy over interstate commerce.
Mapp V. Ohio 1961
• Police enter Dollree Mapps’ home without a
proper search warrant
• Mapp is arrested for possession of obscene
materials
• Convicted, but appeals her case to the
Supreme Court ~ 4th Amendment Violated
• Illegally obtained evidence can not be used in
court of law.