Supreme Court Cases
Supreme Court Cases
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Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896
West Coast Hotel v. Parrish, 1937
Miranda v. Arizona, 1966
Bethel School District v. Fraser, 1986
BROWN v. BOARD OF EDUCATION (I), 1952
Supreme Court Cases
1. Summarize background & issues of
your case.
2. Summarize the Court’s decision.
3. What is the effect of this case?
4. What is your opinion about this
case?
Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896
Background: Racially segregated trains --Plessy sits in the ‘whites only’ train and is
then arrested --- argues that segregation is
unconstitutional
Decision: Segregation is okay as long as it
is equal --- separate but equal
Effect: Starts racial segregation (whites
only, colored only)
OPINIONS?
West Coast Hotel v. Parrish, 1937
Background: Parrish receives
pay below minimum wage and
sues to receive the difference.
Decision: Court agrees with
Parrish saying that minimum
wage law was constitutional
because it protect the health
and welfare of workers
Effect: Everyone MUST be paid
minimum wage
Miranda v. Arizona, 1966
O Background: People were being interrogated and
confessing to crimes, but did not have their rights told
to them. Miranda sued on the basis of selfincriminilization
O Decision: Agreed with Miranda that you must be read
your rights before you are interrogated
O Effect: Before you are interrogated you MUST be read
your rights or else you can’t use the information in
court!
Bethel School District v.
Fraser, 1986
O Background: Fraser, a student gives an
inappropriate speech at school using offensive
words. He is suspended and sues the school
O Decision: In favor of the school, because
students have freedom of speech but up to a
point in school. His speech was not consistent
with the "values of public school education.“
O Effect: Students have freedom of speech, but it
only up to a point. You still need to be respectful
in school settings.
BROWN v. BOARD OF
EDUCATION (I), 1952
Background: Fight to end segregation of
schools, because it is not legal. Argument is
that the segregated schools are equal so they
are legal
Court decision: Segregated schools are NOT
equal, hence they are unconstitutional
Effect: End of segregation