The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Salinas v. Texas, Supreme Court of the United States, (2013) Case summary for Salinas v. Texas: Salinas voluntarily went down to a police station regarding a murder, resulting in the death of two victims. Before being taken into custody or read his Miranda rights, Salinas answered several questions asked by police officers. When asked […]
Read moreThe term castle doctrine refers to the legal right of a person to defend himself against an intruder in his home or other property, even should the use of deadly force be required. Under this legal theory, the homeowner is not required to retreat, but may stand his ground to defend himself, his home, or his property. To explore this […]
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 Atkins v. Virginia, Supreme Court of the United States, (2002) Case summary for Atkins v. Virginia: Daryl Atkins has an IQ of 59 and was sentenced to death for robbing and murdering a man at gun point. Atkins appealed his death sentence to the United States Supreme Court, claiming it violated the Eighth Amendment. […]
Read moreThe legal term self defense refers to a type of affirmative defense used to explain one person’s use of force against another person. For example, self defense describes a situation wherein one person reasonably uses force to defend himself against an attack by another person on the subway. A person might use non-deadly force, or deadly force, to defend himself, […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Katko v. Briney, 183 N.W.2d 657 (1971) Case Summary of Katko v. Briney: Defendants set up a spring gun to guard against people trespassing into their unoccupied farmhouse. Plaintiff broke into the house and was seriously injured by the spring gun. At trial, Plaintiff won a verdict of $20,000 actual, and $10,000 punitive, damages. Defendant […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010). Case Summary of Graham v. Florida: Petitioner Graham committed two robbery-type offenses before he was 18 years old. He was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. Graham challenged his sentence as violative of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The Florida state courts denied […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428 (2000). Case Summary of Dickerson v. United States: Petitioner, prior to his criminal trial, moved to suppress a statement he made because he was never given his Miranda warnings. The District Court granted the motion. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed. The Fourth Circuit held that the […]
Read moreThe term “fine” can be defined in several ways. For example, a fine can be a sum of money that is ordered to be paid as part of a punishment for an offense. This is the more common definition of the term. However, the term “fine” can also be used to describe a fee that is paid by a tenant […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420 (1984). Case Summary of Berkemer v. McCarty: Respondent McCarty was stopped by police for driving while intoxicated. McCarty responded to police questions during the traffic stop and after he was put in jail. Police never read McCarty his Miranda rights. The trial court denied McCarty’s motion to exclude his […]
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