The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Shelley v. Kraemer, 344 U.S. 1 (1948). Case Summary of Shelley v. Kraemer: In two companion cases, two African-American families were denied the use of land that they purchased due to race-based restrictive covenants placed on those properties. The State Supreme Courts of Missouri and Michigan allowed the deprivation of the property based on the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982). Case Summary of Plyler v. Doe: A Texas law denied free public education to children who were illegally in the country. The law was challenged on constitutional grounds in federal court. The Federal District Courts, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, held that the Texas law violated the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992). Case Summary of Planned Parenthood v. Casey: Several of Pennsylvania’s statutory abortion provisions were challenged in federal court. Those provisions included requirements of informed consent, a 24-hour waiting period, parental consent for minors seeking abortions, and spousal notification. In reviewing the provisions, the U.S. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. Supreme Court (2012). Case Summary of Miller v. Alabama: This case involves two companion cases. In both cases, a 14-year-old was convicted of murder and sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole. Both defendants argued that a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile violates the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969). Case Summary of Brandenburg v. Ohio: Brandenburg, a leader of the KKK, was convicted under Ohio’s Criminal Syndicalism statute, which prohibits advocating violence for political reform. The Ohio Supreme Court affirmed his conviction. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed. It found that the Ohio statute punishes mere advocacy […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for NFIB v. Sebelius, 132 S. Ct. 2566 (2012). Case Summary of NFIB v. Sebelius: Petitioners challenged the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Petitioners found fault with the ACA’s “individual mandate” (requiring people to obtain minimum health coverage), and “Medicaid expansion” (requiring States to cover more individuals under Medicaid). The Eleventh […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985). Case Summary of Tennessee v. Garner: Police officer shot and killed an unarmed fleeing suspect – Garner. Garner’s family sued, alleging that Garner’s constitutional rights were violated. The District Court found no constitutional violation. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed. The U.S. Supreme Court held that deadly […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005). Case Summary of Roper v. Simmons: Simmons, age 17, planned and committed a capital murder. He was sentenced to death. His direct appeal and petitions for relief were rejected. When the Supreme Court decided Atkins v. Virginia in 2002 (barring executions for the mentally disabled), Simmons filed a new […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Pennoyer v. Neff, 95 U.S. 714 (1878). Case Summary of Pennoyer v. Neff: An attorney, Mitchell, sued Neff in Oregon state court. Neff did not live in Oregon. Mitchell served notice of the suit by publication, not by personal service. Once Mitchell received a default judgment against Neff, Mitchell sold property Neff owned in Oregon […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967). Case Summary of Katz v. United States: The FBI, using a device attached to the outside of a telephone booth, recorded petitioner’s phone conversations while in the enclosed booth. Petitioner was subsequently convicted of making wagering calls in violation of federal law. The FBI’s recordings were used as […]
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