Chapter 4 - Supreme Court Cases

What was the significance of Barron v. Baltimore (1833)?

It ruled that the Bill of Rights only restricted the federal government, allowing states to infringe individual rights.

What did the Supreme Court decide in Branzburg v. Hayes (1972)?

The First Amendment does not grant journalists a special privilege to refuse to testify before a grand jury.

What was the outcome of Edwards v. Aguillard (1963)?

The law mandating 'creation science' alongside evolution failed the Lemon test and was ruled unconstitutional.

What was ruled unconstitutional in Engel v. Vitale (1962)?

State-sponsored, mandatory prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause.

What did Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) mandate?

States must provide attorneys to criminal defendants who cannot afford their own.

What was the ruling of Gitlow v. New York (1925)?

The First Amendment's protections for freedom of speech and press were extended to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.

What did the Supreme Court decide in Gregg v. Georgia (1976)?

Death penalty does not violate the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments if proper procedures are in place.

What did Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) strike down?

Connecticut's law banning contraception for married couples was ruled unconstitutional.

What is the 'Lemon Test' established in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)?

A three-pronged test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause.

What was the ruling in Lynch v. Donnelly (1984)?

A Nativity scene in a city Christmas display did not violate the Establishment Clause.

What did Mapp v. Ohio (1961) establish?

The exclusionary rule that makes evidence obtained through illegal searches inadmissible in state courts.

What was the significance of McCleskey v. Kemp (1987)?

Statistical evidence of racial bias in death penalty cases is insufficient to prove unconstitutionality.

What standard did Miller v. California (1973) introduce?

The 'Miller test' to determine whether material is legally obscene.

What did Miranda v. Arizona (1966) require?

Police must inform suspects of their rights before any custodial interrogation.

What was the impact of NAACP v. Alabama (1958)?

Affirmed the right of associational freedom and protected the privacy of civil rights organizations.

What did Near v. Minnesota (1931) establish regarding prior restraint?

Prior restraint on publication is unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

What did New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) establish for libel cases?

The 'actual malice' standard requiring public officials to prove false statements were made knowingly or with reckless disregard.

What did Osborne v. Ohio (1991) uphold?

State law criminalizing the private possession of child pornography.

What was reaffirmed in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)?

The constitutional right to an abortion, establishing an 'undue burden' standard for regulations.

What did Roe v. Wade (1973) establish?

A woman’s constitutional right to an abortion based on the right to privacy.

What did Roth v. United States (1957) rule regarding obscenity?

Obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment.

What is the 'clear and present danger' test established in Schenck v. United States (1919)?

A criterion to limit free speech during wartime if it poses a tangible threat.

What was ruled unconstitutional in Abington School District v. Schempp (1963)?

Mandatory Bible readings and prayer in public schools.

What did Texas v. Johnson (1989) determine about flag burning?

Flag burning is a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

What did United States v. O'Brien (1968) establish regarding symbolic speech?

Created a four-part test for when the government can regulate symbolic speech.

What did Woodson v. North Carolina (1976) decide about capital punishment?

Mandatory death penalty statutes are unconstitutional as they do not allow for individualized consideration.

What was upheld in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)?

Ohio’s school voucher program did not violate the Establishment Clause.

What did Zurcher v. Stanford Daily (1976) rule about press freedom?

Police can search a newspaper's offices with a valid warrant, despite press freedom concerns.