The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Hurtado v. California, 110 U.S. 516 (1884) Case Summary of Hurtado v. California: The law of California allows for accusation by information to begin a criminal case, in addition to indictment by grand jury. Hurtado was accused by information of murder. He was subsequently tried and found guilty of murder. Hurtado claimed that his […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Horton v. California, 496 U.S. 128 (1990) Case Summary of Horton v. California: Petitioner moved to suppress evidence of an armed robbery that was discovered in plain view by an officer during execution of a search warrant. The officer expected to find those items, however, so the plain view discovery was not inadvertent. The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Hess v. Pawloski, 274 U.S. 352 (1927) Case Summary of Hess v. Pawloski: Hess, a Pennsylvania resident, caused a car accident with Pawloski on a Massachusetts highway, injuring Pawloski. Pawloski sued Hess in Massachusetts court. Pawloski served process on Hess in accordance with Massachusetts statute, which requires service on the Massachusetts registrar of motor […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003) Case Summary of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health: Seven same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses in the State of Massachusetts. They sued the government, stating that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates Massachusetts law. The state Superior Court granted the government’s motion […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323 (1974) Case Summary of Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.: The family of a murder victim hired petitioner to be their attorney in a civil suit against the murderer. Respondent media organization published defamatory statements about petitioner, including statements that he was a Communist and framed the murderer. […]
Read moreThe term “condemnation” is used to define the situation wherein a local, state, or federal government seizes a citizen’s property, then compensates the owner for what was seized. An example of condemnation is a piece of property being condemned by the government due to a carbon monoxide leak. The owners of the property will be forced to move out, and […]
Read moreFollowing 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 Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186 (2003) Case Summary of Eldred v. Ashcroft: Congress passed the Copyright Term Extension Act, which extends a copyright from 50 years after the death of the author to 70 years. Petitioners, a group of individuals and businesses who benefit from works that come into the public domain, sued in […]
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