The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Burnham v. Superior Court, 495 U.S. 604 (1990) Case Summary of Burnham v. Superior Court: While traveling to California to conduct business and visit his children, petitioner was served with divorce papers by his estranged wife. Petitioner moved to quash service, claiming that California did not have jurisdiction over him because the personal service […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Argersinger v. Hamlin, Supreme Court of the United States, (1972) Case summary for Argersinger v. Hamlin: Jon Argersinger was charged with carrying a concealed weapon under a state statute which imposed a possible sentence of up to six months incarceration. Argersinger was not appointed counsel, and was convicted. Argersinger filed a petition for habeas […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Adamson v. California, Supreme Court of the United States, (1947) Case summary for Adamson v. California: Adamson was charged with first degree murder. At trial, he failed to deny the evidence offered against him and the judge instructed the jury that such failure can be used as evidence of guilt. Adamson was convicted and […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Eakin v. Raub, 12 Sergeant & Rawle 330 (Pa. 1825) Case Summary of Eakin v. Raub: Plaintiffs sued to eject defendants from land. The trial court found for defendants, finding that a change in the relevant statute of limitations barred plaintiffs’ action. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed and ordered a new trial. In dicta, […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Hamdan v. Rumsfield, United States Supreme Court, (2006) Case summary for Hamdan v. Rumsfield: After being detained and brought to Guantanamo Bay, Hamdan was charged with conspiracy to be tried by a military commission and was granted habeas corpus to dispute his charge. Hamdan claimed that his trial by the U.S. military commission was […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Nix v. Williams, 467 U.S. 431 (1984) Case Summary of Nix v. Williams: Williams was convicted of murder. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the conviction (in Brewer v. Williams) because police elicited from him the location of the victim’s body in violation of his Sixth Amendment rights. Williams was tried and convicted a second time. The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for California v. Acevedo, Supreme Court of the United States, (1991). Case summary for California v. Acevedo: Acevedo was spotted carry a bag out of a house that was under police surveillance. Officers had probable cause to believe the bag, which Acevedo placed in his trunk, contained contraband. Officers then pulled over Acevedo, recovering the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Batson v. Kentucky, Supreme Court of the United States, (1986) Case summary for Batson v. Kentucky: Batson, an African American was charged with burglary and receiving stolen property. The state used all their peremptory challenges to keep African Americans off the jury. Batson was convicted and claimed that the use of peremptory challenges based […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Rhode Island v. Innis, Supreme Court of the United States, (1980) Case summary for Rhode Island v. Innis: Innis was arrested, read his Miranda rights and subsequently placed in a squad car. On the way to the police station, one officer stated how he was worried that one of the children from the handicapped […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Cohens v. Virginia, 19 U.S. 264 (1821). Case Summary of Cohens v. Virginia: The Cohens sold tickets for a D.C. lottery in Virginia. Virginia had a law prohibiting the sale of out-of-state lottery tickets. The Cohens were convicted and fined $100 for the violation. They appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The State of Virginia moved […]
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