Court Cases for Exam 1 BLAW

Roper v. Simmons

Execution of offenders who were under 18 when they committed the crime violates the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review—the Supreme Court's authority to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.

Hertz Corp. v. Friend

A corporation's principal place of business for diversity jurisdiction is its "nerve center"—the single place where officers direct control and coordinate the corporation's activities typically its headquarters.

Doe v. Smith

A complaint must contain sufficient factual allegations to state a plausible legal claim and survive a motion to dismiss.

Reier Broadcasting Co. v. Kramer

An injunction requires irreparable harm and a showing that monetary damages would be inadequate.

Texas v. Johnson

Burning the American flag as political expression is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

Katzenbach v. McClung

Congress may regulate even a local business under the Commerce Clause when its activities affect interstate commerce such as purchasing substantial supplies that moved across state lines.

NFIB v. Sebelius

The ACA individual mandate was upheld under Congress's Taxing Clause power but could not be justified under the Commerce Clause; threatening states with loss of existing Medicaid funding to compel expansion was unconstitutionally coercive.

Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe

Student-led prayer over a public high school's PA system at football games violates the First Amendment Establishment Clause.

Virginia v. Black

A state may prohibit cross burning intended to intimidate but cross burning by itself cannot automatically establish intent to intimidate.

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan

Public officials suing for defamation must prove "actual malice"—knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition

The Supreme Court struck down overbroad restrictions on virtual or simulated depictions that appeared to involve minors when no actual minors were involved because the restrictions violated the First Amendment.

Snyder v. Phelps

Peaceful speech concerning public issues in a public forum such as picketing near a military funeral is protected by the First Amendment against state tort liability.

United States v. Alvarez

False statements such as lying about receiving military honors are not automatically excluded from First Amendment protection; the Stolen Valor Act's prohibition was unconstitutional.

Morse v. Frederick

Public schools may restrict student speech at school-sponsored events when the speech is reasonably interpreted as promoting illegal drug use.

Citizens United v. FEC

Independent political expenditures are protected by the First Amendment; corporations and unions may spend unlimited amounts on independent political advocacy.

Katz v. United States

A Fourth Amendment search occurs when government intrudes upon a person's reasonable expectation of privacy; warrantless wiretapping of a private phone conversation violated the Fourth Amendment.

Maryland v. King

A routine DNA cheek swab from a person arrested for a serious crime is a reasonable search under the Fourth Amendment.

Mapp v. Ohio

The exclusionary rule applies to the states—evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment is generally inadmissible in state court.

Minnesota v. Dickerson

Under the Plain Feel Doctrine police conducting a lawful Terry frisk may seize contraband when its illegal nature is immediately apparent through touch.

Terry v. Ohio

Police may briefly stop a person based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity and frisk for weapons when they reasonably suspect the person is armed and dangerous.