The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Rochin v. California, Supreme Court of the United States, (1925) Case Summary for Rochin v. California: While searching Rochin’s home, officers asked what was in the capsules found by his nightstand. Rochin responded by swallowing the capsules. Officers arrested Rochin and had his stomach pumped against his will, yielding two pills which contained morphine. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States, 379 U.S. 241 (1964). Case Summary of Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States: A large motel in Atlanta refused to serve African Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits racial discrimination in places of public accommodation The motel owner challenged the Civil Rights Act […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970). Case Summary of Goldberg v. Kelly: Welfare recipients sued in federal court because benefits were being terminated without recipients getting notice or a hearing prior to termination. The District Court held that a pre-termination hearing is required to satisfy procedural due process. On appeal, the Supreme Court agreed. […]
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 Brown v. Mississippi, United States Supreme Court, (1936) Case summary for Brown v. Mississippi: Brown was convicted of murder and sentenced to death based solely on his confession which was procured through severe beatings by the police. Brown offered evidence of the beatings, but the court still permitted the confession to be introduced and […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Gratz v. Bollinger, United States Supreme Court, (2003) Case summary for Gratz v. Bollinger: Two Caucasians challenged the University of Michigan’s admissions policy after being denied entry into the undergraduate program, claiming the procedure violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection clause. The Procedure automatically added 20 points onto the application of a minority candidate. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Shelley v. Kraemer, 344 U.S. 1 (1948). Case Summary of Shelley v. Kraemer: In two companion cases, two African-American families were denied the use of land that they purchased due to race-based restrictive covenants placed on those properties. The State Supreme Courts of Missouri and Michigan allowed the deprivation of the property based on the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Duncan v. Louisiana, United States Supreme Court, (1968) Case summary for Duncan v. Louisiana: Duncan was charged with simple battery and requested a jury trial. The court denied his request as the state only permitted jury trials for capital offenses and Duncan was found guilty. Duncan appealed his conviction, claiming the denial of his […]
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