The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 (1974) Case Summary of Lau v. Nichols: Following the integration of public schools in San Francisco, almost 3,000 students of Chinese descent attended school without the ability to understand English. The school system provided special English instruction for only about 1,000 Chinese students. Several Chinese students brought a […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Gill v. Whitford, 138 S. Ct. 1916 (2018) Case Summary of Gill v. Whitford: In 2010, the Republican majority in Wisconsin gerrymandered the State’s districts to ensure a Republican majority in the State for the foreseeable future. Democratic voters sued in federal court, alleging that the partisan gerrymander violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc., 137 S. Ct. 1002 (2017) Case Summary of Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc.: Varsity Brands sued Star Athletica for infringement of its design of cheerleading uniforms. The lower courts disagreed as to whether the design could be separated from the utilitarian function of the uniform […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Nelson v. Colorado, 137 S. Ct. 1249 (2017) Case Summary of Nelson v. Colorado: Petitioners Nelson and Madden were convicted in Colorado court, in separate cases, on sexual assault charges. Their convictions were subsequently overturned. They then sought a refund of the fees and costs they paid to the State in connection with their […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co., 392 U.S. 409 (1968) Case Summary of Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co.: A real estate company refused to sell a home to an African-American man, Jones, because he was African-American. Jones sued in federal court, alleging a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1982. The lower courts denied […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Brown v. Plata, 563 U.S. 493 (2011) Case Summary of Brown v. Plata: California’s prison population was almost at double its capacity. Because of the overcrowding, a three-judge panel (resulting from two class action suits) determined that the lack of medical and mental health care resulted in an Eighth Amendment violation. Under the Prison […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Strauder v. West Virginia, 100 U.S. 303 (1880) Case Summary of Strauder v. West Virginia: West Virginia had a law that declared that only white men may serve on juries. Strauder, an African-American who was indicted for murder, sought to remove his trial to federal court because West Virginia’s law was unconstitutional. The state […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (1986) Case Summary of Ford v. Wainwright: Petitioner Ford was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Following his sentence, Ford began to act in manner consistent with a serious mental disorder. Ford then went through Florida’s procedure on determining the competency of a condemned prisoner, whereby three […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Board of Education v. Earls, 536 U.S. 822 (2002) Case Summary of Board of Education v. Earls: The Tecumseh, Oklahoma, School District has a policy of drug testing all middle and high school students who participate in extracurricular activities. Several students and their families sued, claiming that the policy violates their civil rights and […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234 (2002) Case Summary of Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition: Two provisions of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 were challenged as overbroad and vague by an adult-entertainment trade association and other parties. Specifically, the two provisions of the Act in question were (i) banning images […]
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