The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Murr v. Wisconsin, 137 S. Ct. 1933 (2017) Case Summary of Murr v. Wisconsin: Petitioners received two adjacent lots of land from their parents at two different times. They wanted to sell one lot, but a Wisconsin regulation prohibited the sale of the one lot. That was because the lot was adjacent to the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Washington v. Davis, 426 U.S. 229 (1976) Case Summary of Washington v. Davis: Four times as many African-Americans failed a District of Columbia Police Department officer-qualifying test compared to whites. Two African-Americans who failed the test sued in federal court, claiming that the test violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97 (1976) Case Summary of Estelle v. Gamble: Respondent Gamble was seriously injured while doing prison work. He was seen 17 times by prison medical personnel, but his injuries persisted. Moreover, prison officials were not consistent in ensuring Gamble had his medications. They even put Gamble in solitary confinement, […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U.S. 111 (1942) Case Summary of Wickard v. Filburn: The Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938 and its 1941 amendments, established quotas for wheat production. Penalties were imposed if a farmer exceeded the quotas. The Act was passed under Congress’ Commerce Clause power. Roscoe Filburn, produced twice as much wheat than […]
Read moreThe term “undocumented immigrants” describes individuals who were born in a foreign country and who live in the United States with no legal right to. For example, undocumented immigrants can be individuals who came to the U.S. to work or study, then failed to leave when their temporary visas expired. The term for undocumented immigrants used to be “illegal aliens,” […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000) Case Summary of Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe: Santa Fe High School had a student school chaplain, approved by the school administration, who would read prayers over the public announcement system before home football games. Several families filed suit, claiming that […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U.S. 507 (1997) Case Summary of City of Boerne v. Flores: A Catholic Archbishop wanted to expand a church in Boerne, Texas. Local ordinances prohibited the expansion, and thus the request to expand was denied. The Archbishop challenged the denial, claiming in part that it violated the Religious […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438 (1928) Case Summary of Olmstead v. United States: Olmstead, and other defendants, were convicted of conspiracy to violate the Prohibition Act. The evidence used to convict consisted of wiretapped conversations that were obtained without judicial approval. Olmstead challenged his conviction, claiming that the use of the wiretap […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for California v. Greenwood, 486 U.S. 35 (1988) Case Summary of California v. Greenwood: Police seized the trash bags left outside of Respondent Greenwood’s house. Evidence of drug activity was found in the bags, and that information was used to obtain a warrant to search Greenwood’s house. That occurred on two separate occasions. The search […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Florida v. Jardines, 569 U.S. 1 (2013) Case Summary of Florida v. Jardines: Police used a drug-sniffing dog on Jardines’ front porch, and the dog alerted to the smell of marijuana. The police then obtained a warrant, found marijuana in the home, and arrested Jardines. At trial, Jardines moved to suppress the marijuana evidence. […]
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