The Law Dictionary for Everyone
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution tackles the issues of equal protection under the law, and the rights of citizens. Unsurprisingly, the 14th Amendment was met with a great deal of contention at the time it was proposed. This was due to the fact that the states that were once part of the Confederacy were forced to ratify the […]
Read moreThe 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is perhaps most memorable for being directly tied to the women’s suffrage movement that took place in the U.S. at both the state and federal levels. For example, the 19th Amendment prohibited state and federal governments from denying citizens the right to vote because of their sex. This was necessary because, until as […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372 (2007) Case Summary of Scott v. Harris: Officer Scott ended a high-speed car chase with Respondent Harris by running into the back of Harris’s car, causing Harris to crash and suffer severe injuries. Harris sued Scott for violating his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures. The trial […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000) Case Summary of Troxel v. Granville: A Washington State statute allowed any person to petition the court for visitation rights at any time, and gave the court complete authority to make a determination in the best interest of the child. Petitioner grandparents sought, and the trial court […]
Read moreThe 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution concerns term limits of presidents and vice presidents of the United States, as well as those of members of Congress. Specifically, the 20th Amendment moved the beginning of the terms of the president and vice president from March 4 to January 20. It also moved the beginning of the terms of members of […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Robinson v. California, Supreme Court of the United States, (1962) Case summary for Robinson v. California: Robinson was a drug addict who was convicted under a California state statute which criminalized being addicted to drugs. The trial judge instructed the jury that Robinson could be convicted regardless of whether or not he was in […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Ewing v. California, Supreme Court of the United States, (2003) Case summary for Ewing v. California: Ewing was charged and convicted for stealing three golf clubs. Ewing previously committed two offenses, ripe under the states “three strikes” law. After receiving a sentence of 25 years imprisonment, Ewing challenged the law’s constitutionality under the Eight […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Alabama v. White, Supreme Court of the United States, (1990) Case summary for Alabama v. White: Based on an informant tip, officers camped outside of Vanessa Rose White’s home as part of their investigation. Shortly after White left her address driving her car, both of which were described in the tip, officer’s stopped White’s […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Brendlin v. California, Supreme Court of the United States, (2007) Case summary for Brendlin v. California: Brendlin was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by police. Drugs were found inside of the car. Brendlin was arrested and charged with possession of drugs and paraphernalia, to which he filed a motion to suppress. The trial […]
Read moreThe 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution deals with the concepts of voting and paying taxes. Simply put: a person’s right to vote cannot be denied him simply because he owes poll taxes, or taxes of any other kind. A poll tax is a type of tax that used to be required before people could vote, until it was abolished […]
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