The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Florida v. Riley, 488 U.S. 445 (1989) Case Summary of Florida v. Riley: Police viewed Riley’s backyard greenhouse from a helicopter at 400 feet and saw what appeared to be marijuana. After obtaining a warrant based on the observation, police searched Riley’s greenhouse and charged him with possession of marijuana. Following Riley’s motion, the trial […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429 (1991) Case Summary of Florida v. Bostick: Two officers boarded Terrence Bostick’s bus, questioned him, and asked him for consent to look in his luggage. They advised him of his right to refuse. Bostick gave consent, and cocaine was found in his luggage. Bostick moved to suppress the drugs […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975) Case Summary of Faretta v. California: Criminal defendant Faretta wished to represent himself in his criminal trial. The trial court, however, appointed a lawyer for Faretta. The court found that he did not knowing and intelligently waive his right to counsel. A jury convicted Faretta, and he was sentenced […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584 (1977) Case Summary of Coker v. Georgia: Petitioner was convicted of rape and other violent offenses. He was sentenced to death on the rape charge. The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed petitioner’s conviction and sentence. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed. The Court held that the death penalty for the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for California v. Carney, 471 U.S. 386 (1985) Case Summary of California v. Carney: Respondent provided marijuana to a youth in exchange for sexual favors in respondent’s motor home. Following the transaction, federal agents entered the motor home without consent or a warrant. Respondent unsuccessfully moved to suppress the marijuana evidence, and then pleaded no […]
Read moreThe phrase “breaking and entering” used to go hand in hand with burglary. If someone attempted to enter a building without permission, and with the intention of committing a crime, he could be charged with burglary, and breaking and entering was an element of the crime. Today, no “breaking” is required to charge someone with burglary. Any “entering” into a […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Bond v. United States, 134 S. Ct. 2077 (2014) Case Summary of Bond v. United States: Petitioner Bond used chemicals to get revenge on her husband’s lover. She was prosecuted in federal court for violations of the Chemical Weapons Implementation Act, an Act implementing a global treaty on chemical weapons. On appeal, Bond argued […]
Read moreIn the law, a conspiracy refers to an agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act, or to deprive another person of his legal rights. The agreement to act must be moved toward a conclusion, whether or not it is actually accomplished. Plans made by a certain combination of people for unlawful or secret purposes may also […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Arizona v. Johnson, Supreme Court of the United States, (2009) Case summary for Arizona v. Johnson: Johnson was a passenger in a vehicle legally seized for a traffic stop. One officer developed suspicion that Johnson was carrying a gun and ordered him out of the car, where she performed a pat down (frisk). The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Atwater v. City of Lago Vista, 532 U.S. 318 (2001) Case Summary of Atwater v. City of Lago Vista: Atwater was arrested for driving while neither she nor her children had seatbelts on. The arresting officer’s treatment of her was humiliating. Atwater sued the City of Lago Vista, alleging a violation of the Fourth Amendment. […]
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