The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Brewer v. Williams, 430 U.S. 387 (1977). Case Summary of Brewer v. Williams: Respondent Williams abducted and murdered a 10-year-old girl. Two days later he turned himself in after speaking to his attorney. While he was transported by police officers to the jurisdiction where the crime occurred, an officer appealed to Williams’ religious beliefs by […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Berkemer v. McCarty, 468 U.S. 420 (1984). Case Summary of Berkemer v. McCarty: Respondent McCarty was stopped by police for driving while intoxicated. McCarty responded to police questions during the traffic stop and after he was put in jail. Police never read McCarty his Miranda rights. The trial court denied McCarty’s motion to exclude his […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for United States v. Leon, United States Supreme Court, (1984) Case summary for United States v. Leon: Police officers executed a facially valid search warrant unveiling evidence that was later introduced at trial. The warrant was later determined to lack probable cause. Leon, along with others, moved to suppress the evidence claiming introduction of the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Barron v. Baltimore, 32 U.S. 243 (1833). Case Summary of Barron v. Baltimore: Barron, a co-owner of a once-profitable wharf in Baltimore Harbor, sued the Mayor and City of Baltimore. Barron claimed that city expansion resulted in sand accumulating at his wharf, making it lose all value. The trial court’s decision in Barron’s favor […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986). Case Summary of Bowers v. Hardwick: Respondent Hardwick was charged under a Georgia anti-sodomy law for engaging in homosexual sodomy in his own home. Although he was not prosecuted for the violation, Hardwick sought a judgment in Federal District Court declaring that Georgia’s law was unconstitutional. The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Near v. Minnesota, United States Supreme Court, (1931) Case summary for Near v. Minnesota: Near was prevented from publishing “The Saturday Press” under a state statute which prevented the publication of “malicious, scandalous and defamatory” periodicals. This specific publication was known to publish racial slurs regarding public officials, specifically Olsen. When the state court […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Powell v. Alabama, United States Supreme Court, (1932) Case summary for Powell v. Alabama: Powell and eight other African American men were convicted of raping two white women on a train. The trial judge did not assign specific counsel to each of the men and instead listed “all members of the bar” as counsel. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Payton v. New York, United States Supreme Court, (1980) Case summary for Payton v. New York: Theodore Payton and Obie Reddick each had evidence seized from their home absent a warrant. The state trial court introduced the seized evidence and the state supreme court upheld their convictions. Both defendants appealed their convictions to the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for United States v. Lopez, 132 S. Ct. 945 (2012). Case Summary of United States v. Lopez: A high school senior was convicted for bringing a gun to his school, which Congress made a federal crime under the Gun Free School Zones Act. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the conviction, finding that the federal […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Branzberg v. Hayes, United States Supreme Court, (1972) Case summary for Branzberg v. Hayes: Paul Branzberg, along with two others, challenged their contempt convictions after each refused to testify at a grand jury regarding the confidential identities and information they received. Each defendant claimed First Amendment protection as a news reporter, stating they were […]
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