Business Law Case Assignments:
Landmark Supreme Court Decisions, 1989-present
1) Roper v. Simmons
a. Jeremy Smith
b. Robert Flores
2) U.S. v. Virginia
a. Gabrielle Robinson
b. Malena Mejia
3) Hudson v. McMillian
a. Lauren Vargas
b. Alex Toder
4) Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
a. Brishay Winn
5) District of Columbia v. Heller
a. Roman Munoz
6) Lee v. Weisman
a. Hector Gonzales
7) Barnes v. Glen Theater
a. Jacob Flores
b. Trevon Maliani
8) Board of Education v. Earls
a. Seiara Harris
b. Chanel Booker
9) Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health
a. Thalia Foster
10) Employment Division v. Smith
a. Henry Lopez
11) Bush v. Gore
a. Andrew Tomiczek
12) Gonzales v. Raich
a. Yaros Madrigal
13) U.S. v. Morrison
a. Delaney Mangrum
14) Grutter v. Bollinger
a. Lemon Hodges
Business Law Project
1) go to: www.oyez.org
2) Search for your case. Make sure it is the right case! The entire list is here so make
sure the one you select is the correct case (hint: check the year, then read the case
description).
3) You will need to read:
a. Facts of the Case
b. Question
c. Conclusion
d. Case Basics
e. Advocates
f. Legal Provision (in green @ the bottom)
4) You will create:
a. A paper
b. An oral presentation
Paper Requirements:
 (3) pages MINIMUM
 Typed
 Double-spaced
 12 point font
 Either Times New Roman or Arial font ONLY (normal fonts)
 Proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
 No handwritten papers will be accepted
 Hard copy only, no electronic copies accepted
 Must use (3) sources minimum (includes www.oyez.org).Bibliography is
required, in proper APA format. No bibliography? Your entire work will be
considered plagiarism and you will receive a zero for the written portion.
Oral Presentation Requirements:
 Length: 5 minutes is the MINIMUM. Time yourself and rehearse. There will
penalties for those that do not meet the minimum time requirement.
 You may use notes/handouts/outline/note cards. You may NOT get up and
read your paper, or read directly from any source for your entire presentation.
A portion of it must be rehearsed and pre-prepared. No impromptu speeches.
 Work must be individual. No plagiarism of existing works. If you are going to
use quotes or material from any source you find, you must give credit to the
author or your entire body of work will
 Must include one or more of the following visual aids:
o Power Point
o Poster
o Tri-fold display
Timeline Requirement:
Projects were handed out on 1/27/09 (Wednesday). Your papers are due on 2/10/10
(Wednesday). All oral presentations are to be completed on 2/10/10 as well. We will have
a drawing to determine presentation order. Anyone called upon that is not prepared to
present will receive an automatic zero, and will not have an opportunity to turn it in late.
Rubric Requirements:
Paper:
Element
12 point font?
Double spaced?
3 page minimum met?
Proper spelling, grammar, punctuation
used?
Case styled properly? (Smith v. Jones)
Summation of facts (without
plagiarism)?
Question(s) Supreme Court has to
decide? Cleary stated/summarized?
Plaintiff/Plaintiff’s attorney identified?
Defendant/Defendant’s attorney
identified?
When was the case argued before the
Supreme Court?
When was the case decided by the
Supreme Court?
What were the major issue(s) of this
case?
What was the decision of the Court?
What was the vote? Did everyone vote?
Why/why not?
Historical precedents related to the
major issue? (prior court decisions)
How could this case impact you?
What is your personal opinion of this
case and its outcome?
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
Oral Presentation:
Element
Proper spelling, grammar, punctuation
used in visual aid?
Length requirement met? (3 min.)
Case styled properly? (Smith v. Jones)
Summation of facts (without
plagiarism)?
Question(s) Supreme Court has to
decide? Cleary stated/summarized?
Plaintiff/Plaintiff’s attorney identified?
Defendant/Defendant’s attorney
identified?
When was the case argued before the
Supreme Court?
When was the case decided by the
Supreme Court?
What were the major issue(s) of this
case?
Points Possible
5
5
10
10
5
10
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
10
5
5
100
Points Possible
10
10
5
10
5
5
5
5
5
10
Historical precedents related to the
major issue? (prior court decisions)
How could this case impact you?
What is your personal opinion of this
case and its outcome?
Overall preparation of presentation:
Neatness? Rehearsal evident? Minimal
reading during presentation? Effort?
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS
10
5
5
10
100
Fun Fact:
You can actually HEAR the oral arguments of both the Plaintiff and Defense attorneys,
as well as the reading of the oral decision, by clicking on this section of the site regarding
your case! ****BELOW IS A SAMPLE ONLY!****
Media Items
Board of Education v. Earls - Oral Argument
Expanded View
Download MP3
Board of Education v. Earls - Opinion Announcement
Expanded View
Download MP3