The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Employment Div. v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990) Case Summary of Employment Div. v. Smith: Two members of the Native American Church were fired from their jobs for using the drug peyote because the drug was illegal in Oregon. The fired employees claimed that use of the peyote was an important part of Native […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for West Virginia State Bd. of Educ. v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) Case Summary of West Virginia State Bd. of Educ. v. Barnette: The West Virginia Board of Education made saluting the flag and reciting the pledge of allegiance compulsory for all public school students. Violation of that rule could result in prosecution of […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Printz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997) Case Summary of Printz v. United States: The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, a federal law, called for State and local law enforcement officials to conduct background checks people seeking to buy a gun. Two law enforcement officials from Montana and Arizona challenged the law on […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 136 S. Ct. 2292 (2016) Case Summary of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt: Texas passed a law in 2013 with the clear intention of restricting abortions in the State. The Texas law placed two requirements on abortion clinics in the state – the “admitting-privileges” requirement and the “surgical-center” requirement. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Kyllo v. United States, 533 U.S. 27 (2001) Case Summary of Kyllo v. United States: Federal agents used a thermal imaging device outside of Kyllo’s home, suspecting that Kyllo was growing marijuana in his home, which requires use of heat lamps. The device indicated that more heat was emanating from Kyllo’s residence than from […]
Read moreThe term “ratification” describes the act of making something officially valid by signing it or otherwise giving it formal consent. For example, ratification occurs when parties sign a contract. The signing of the contract makes it official, and it can then be enforced by law, should the need arise. To explore this concept, consider the following ratification definition. Definition of […]
Read moreThe 6th Amendment is the amendment to the Constitution that gives everyone the right to a speedy and public trial. For example, the 6th Amendment provides that a person will not have to undergo a drawn-out process that can both prolong his anxiety and potentially impair his ability to defend himself. The 6th Amendment also requires all criminal trials be […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279 (1987) Case Summary of McCleskey v. Kemp: Petitioner, an African-American man, was convicted in Georgia for murdering a white police officer and was sentenced to death. Seeking habeas corpus relief in federal district court, petitioner claimed that his death sentence was unconstitutional based on statistical study showing that […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2751 (2014) Case Summary of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.: Several for-profit, closely held companies, including Hobby Lobby, complained that the ACA’s requirement that for-profit employers provide insurance for contraceptives for their female employees infringed on their companies’ First Amendment right of the free […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) Case Summary of Reynolds v. Sims: Voters in several Alabama counties sought a declaration that the State’s legislature did not provide equal representation of all Alabama citizens. The federal district court, unsatisfied with Alabama’s proposals to remedy the representation problem, ordered temporary reapportionment for the 1962 general […]
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