The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Kelo v. City of New London, United States Supreme Court, (2005) Case summary for Kelo v. City of New London: After residing there for over sixty years, Susette Kelo was notified by the city of New London that the property was going to be taken away through the city’s eminent domain powers and sold […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507 (2004). Case Summary of Hamdi v. Rumsfeld: Hamdi, a U.S. citizen, was captured in Afghanistan while presumably fighting for the Taliban. The U.S. Government detained him as an “enemy combatant.” Hamdi was indefinitely detained in the U.S. without charges and without access to legal counsel. The District Court hearing […]
Read moreThe Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants every American the right to refuse to give testimony that would incriminate himself, or cause himself to appear guilty of a crime. The Fifth Amendment does not actually use the term “self incrimination,” but states “No person … shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.” This […]
Read moreThe Due Process Clause is included in both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The clause prohibits the government from depriving a person of their right to liberty or property without due process. This clause has helped the federal and state governments adopt fairness standards to ensure people’s rights are not violated. When the justice system […]
Read moreDouble jeopardy protects people from being tried for the same crime twice in a court of law. The clause is found in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, where it was included to prevent the government from erroneously or maliciously convicting innocent people, and to protect people from the consequences of successive prosecutions. It also helps to preserve […]
Read moreAn acquittal is a formal acknowledgement that the prosecutor in a criminal case failed to prove the accused was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. While a jury may find the defendant “not guilty,” an acquittal does not necessarily prove the defendant’s innocence. Because of this, a person acquitted in a criminal court may still be sued in a civil court, […]
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