The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Strauder v. West Virginia, 100 U.S. 303 (1880) Case Summary of Strauder v. West Virginia: West Virginia had a law that declared that only white men may serve on juries. Strauder, an African-American who was indicted for murder, sought to remove his trial to federal court because West Virginia’s law was unconstitutional. The state […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (1986) Case Summary of Ford v. Wainwright: Petitioner Ford was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Following his sentence, Ford began to act in manner consistent with a serious mental disorder. Ford then went through Florida’s procedure on determining the competency of a condemned prisoner, whereby three […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Board of Education v. Earls, 536 U.S. 822 (2002) Case Summary of Board of Education v. Earls: The Tecumseh, Oklahoma, School District has a policy of drug testing all middle and high school students who participate in extracurricular activities. Several students and their families sued, claiming that the policy violates their civil rights and […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 535 U.S. 234 (2002) Case Summary of Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition: Two provisions of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 were challenged as overbroad and vague by an adult-entertainment trade association and other parties. Specifically, the two provisions of the Act in question were (i) banning images […]
Read moreThe meaning of the 4th Amendment comes from unlawful searches and seizures. For example, the 4th Amendment protects people from the unlawful search and seizure by police of their persons, their homes, and their belongings. If an officer violates the 4th Amendment, the victim can sue for wrongful arrest, among other things. To explore this concept, consider the following 4th […]
Read moreThe 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited the manufacture, transport, and sale of alcoholic beverages. The states ratified it on January 16, 1919 though it did not take effect until the next year. Congress repealed this amendment, referred to as the “Noble Experiment” by President Herbert Hoover, in 1933. To explore this concept, consider the following 18th Amendment definition. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for De Jonge v. Oregon, 299 U.S. 353 (1937) Case Summary of De Jonge v. Oregon: De Jonge was arrested under a criminal syndicalism law for speaking at a peaceful Communist Party meeting. The trial court denied De Jonge’s motion for acquittal, and De Jonge was ultimately convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, 137 S. Ct. 2012 (2017) Case Summary of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer: Trinity Lutheran Church has a Child Learning Center with a playground. It sought to resurface the playground with rubber by obtaining a grant through the State of Missouri’s Scrap Tire […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Locke v. Davey, 540 U.S. 712 (2004) Case Summary of Locke v. Davey: Washington State has a Promise Scholarship Program to help high-achieving college students with expenses. The scholarship cannot be used if a student is studying a devotional theology degree. Respondent Davey, a scholarship winner, sued in federal court upon learning that his […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52 (1926) Case Summary of Myers v. United States: An 1876 federal law prohibited a first-, second-, or third-class postmaster from being removed from office without approval by the Senate. President Woodrow Wilson removed first-class postmaster Myers without Senate approval. Myers sought backpay, claiming that the President’s action […]
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