Supreme Court Cases
Warm Up
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2.
How does a case reach the Supreme Court?
What is the cartoon below implying?
National Supremacy
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
 McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
 Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Background: Marbury was appointed as a US
Judge by President Adams during his last
days in office. President Jefferson refused to
give Marbury his position.
Decision: Marbury does not appointment,
SCOTUS can declare a law/action
unconstitutional= Judicial Review
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Background: McCulloch, a bank cashier,
refused to pay a tax on the federal bank by
the State of Maryland
Decision: Allowed Congress to create a
bank (implied powers) and said states
cannot tax the national government
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
Background: Gibbons (had federal
permission) questioned Ogden’s state
charter to run a ferry.
Decision: Federal government is supreme,
Congress has powers to regulate commerce
Commerce Clause- Congress can regulate
trade
US v. Nixon (1974)
Background: President Nixon refused to
give up tapes revealing his role in a crime,
claimed “Executive Privilege”
Decision: The President cant abuse his
power of executive privilege to cover or
alter a criminal investigation
*Nixon was forced to hand over tapes
Civil Rights
Plessy v. Ferguson
 Scott v. Sandford
 Brown v. Board of Education
 Swann v. Charlotte Mecklenburg
 University of California v. Bakke
 Roe v. Wade
 Heart of Atlanta v. US

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Background: Plessy was 1/8 black,
bought a white train ticket
refused to move to black train,
was arrested
Decision: Segregation laws are
Constitutional as long as they are
“separate but equal”
14th Amendment- equality
Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Background: Dred Scott was a
slave whose owner moved from a
slave state to a free state
◦ Scott sued for his freedom,
claiming that because he now lived
in a free state, he should be free
Decision: Dred Scott was a slave
(meaning he was property) and
because he was not a citizen, he
had no standing in the courts
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Background: Mr. Brown demanded his daughter
be allowed in a white school in order to receive
a better education
Decision: Segregation is unconstitutional
“separate but NOT equal” *integrated schools*
Swann v. Charlotte Mecklenburg (1971)
Background: Swann was bussed across town
for school in order to integrate the
school/keep a racial balance
Decision: Busing is constitutional is used to
achieve racial integration of schools
De Facto Segregation- segregation by choice
or tradition
University of California v. Bakke (1978)
Background: Alan Bakkewhite male, was denied
entrance into medical school
because the school needed to
reach its black quotas, even
though he was more qualified
than those admitted.
Decision: Affirmative action is
legal, BUT quotas to
determine affirmative action
are NOT constitutional
14th Amendment
Roe v. Wade (1973)
Background: Jane Roe wanted to have an abortion.
Decision: Abortion is legal under the privacy clause
of the 9th and 14th amendments
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US (1964)
Background: African Americans were not
allowed to stay at the HoA Motel per
owners decision
Decision: Under the Civil Rights Act of
1964, African Americans cannot be denied
access to public businesses
First Amendment
Engle v.Vitale
 Wallace v. Jaffree
 Texas v. Johnson
 Nazi v. Skokie

Engle v. Vitale (1962)
Background: NY Public Schools had
students say a nondenominational prayer
every morning. Parents sued school saying
its unconstitutional
Decision: Students cannot be REQUIRED to
say a prayer in public schools
1st amendment: freedom of religion
Wallace v. Jaffree (1985)
Background: School mandated all students
have a moment of silence for prayer
Decision: Moment of silence for PRAYER is
unconstitutional.
Moment of silence is fine… but cannot
require students to pray
Texas v. Johnson (1984)
Background: Johnson burned a flag,
protesting President Reagan. Johnson
was arrested because of Texas flag
burning laws
Decision: Flag burning is a Constitutional form of
protest
1st amendment- freedom of speech
Nazi v. Skokie (1977)
Background: National Socialist Party wanted to
march through the town of Skokie, IL- a Jewish
community. The town didn’t want them to.
Decision: Hate speech is legal
1st amendment: Freedom of
expression
Rights of the Accused
Mapp v. Ohio
 Gideon v. Wainwright
 Miranda v. Arizona
 In re Gault
 Furman v. Georgia
 Gregg v. Georgia

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Background: Mapp’s home was
searched without a valid warrant.
The police found pornographic material.
She was arrested and convicted under
Ohio’s porn laws.
Decision: created EXCLUSIONARY RULEevidence found in an illegal search cant be
used against a suspect.
4th amendment- search and seizure
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Background: Gideon was found outside
a pool hall and was accused of robbing
it. He couldn’t afford a lawyer in court,
and was sentenced to 5 years in prison
Decision: Everyone is grated the right
to a lawyer in ALL cases. If you cant
afford one, one will be appointed.
6th amendment- right to an attorney
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Background: Miranda- an immigrant, was arrested
and convicted of rape/murder. All without
knowing the legal protection granted to him.
Decision: All suspects should be
informed of their rights upon being
arrested
**MIRANDA RIGHTS**
In re Gault (1967)
Background: Lady reported 15 y/o neighbor prank calling.
Police arrested and questioned minor without parent.
Decision: Parents MUST be present/notified of juvenile
arrests. Due process still applies in ALL juvenile cases
Furman v. Georgia (1972)
Background: Furman broke into a home and
accidently killed the homeowner. Furman was
given the death penalty.
Decision: Death penalty for accidental murder is
cruel and unusual.
*At the time, more black males
received death penalty in GA than
anyone else
Gregg v. Georgia (1976)
Background: Gregg violently
murdered two men after the
picked him up hitchhiking. Given
the death penalty
Decision: Death penalty was
NOT cruel and unusual because
his intention was to kill
Student Rights
Tinker v. Des Moines
 NJ v. TLO
 Bethel v. Fraser
 Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Background: John and Mary Beth Tinker
(siblings) wanted to protest the Vietnam
War by wearing armbands at school.
Principal said no.
Decision: Students can protest
as long as its not disruptive
to the school environment.
New Jersey v. TLO (1985)
Background: TLO caught smoking in
bathroom, principal asked to search bag and
TLO refused. Principal searched anyway
Decision: Principal does NOT NEED a
warrant if it deals with school security
Bethel v. Fraser (1986)
Background: Fraser made a vulgar speech to
student body after he was told not to give
it. He was suspended three days, but
claimed freedom of speech
Decision: Students are limited in speech,
including “sexually vulgar” terms
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
Background: Student wrote about divorce and
pregnancy in their school newspaper. Principal
censored it
Decision: Students do NOT have freedom of
press in the school because it may cause a
disruption