The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following 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 […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Barron v. Baltimore, 32 U.S. 243 (1833). Case Summary of Barron v. Baltimore: Barron, a co-owner of a once-profitable wharf in Baltimore Harbor, sued the Mayor and City of Baltimore. Barron claimed that city expansion resulted in sand accumulating at his wharf, making it lose all value. The trial court’s decision in Barron’s favor […]
Read moreFollowing 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 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 Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003). Case Summary of Grutter v. Bollinger: The University of Michigan Law School denied Barbara Grutter’s application to the School. Grutter, a white Michigan resident, then sued the Law School. Grutter claimed that the Law School’s use of affirmative action in its admissions policy violated her Equal Protection rights […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for McCulloch v. Maryland, Supreme Court of the United States,(1819) Case Summary of McCulloch v. Maryland: Congress passed an act incorporating the Bank of the U.S. and opened up a branch in Maryland. Maryland passed a state law that would impose a tax on the federal Bank, which at the time was the only bank […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Gibbons v. Ogden, United States Supreme Court, (1824) Case Summary for Gibbons v. Ogden: Gibbons was granted permission from Congress to operate steamboats in New York. Ogden was granted a license by the state of New York to operate his steamboat in the same manner. Ogden filed suit for an injunction to prevent Gibbons […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Terry v. Ohio, Supreme Court of the United States, (1968) Case Summary of Terry v. Ohio Three men, including Terry (defendant), were approached by an officer who had observed their alleged suspicious behavior. The officer suspected the men were planning to rob the store. After the officer inquired into what they were doing, the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief of Gideon v. Wainwright, The Supreme Court of the United States, (1963) Case Summary of Gideon v. Wainwright: Gideon was charged with a felony in a state that only required the court to appoint counsel in capital cases. After denial of his request to have court-appointed counsel, Gideon represented himself and was convicted. Gideon then […]
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