Criminal Law Cases Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to important criminal law cases that will be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant based on probable cause.

Emergency-aid exception

A legal principle allowing police to enter a property without a warrant if they believe that an emergency situation exists.

Double Jeopardy Clause

Part of the Fifth Amendment that prohibits an individual from being tried twice for the same offense.

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment and mandates that punishments be proportionate to the crime.

Habeas Corpus

A legal action or writ through which a person can seek relief from unlawful detention.

Intellectually disabled

Refers to individuals who have significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, often assessed with IQ tests.

Watson v. United States example

Not referenced but could relate to the issues of violent crime or gun rights considerations in conjunction with the Second Amendment.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair trial, including the right to legal counsel, an impartial jury, and the right to confront witnesses.

Cumulative effect of IQ scores

The holistic evaluation of various IQ test results used to determine intellectual disability, particularly in capital cases.