AP US Gov Ch.4 Court Cases

Barron v. Baltimore (1833)

Facts: A wharf owner sued the city for damaging his property.

Issue: Does the Bill of Rights apply to state governments?

Impact: The Court held the Bill of Rights restricts only the federal government; selective incorporation had not yet begun.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Facts: NY public schools authorized a short, voluntary prayer.

Issue: Does school-sponsored prayer violate the Establishment Clause?

Impact: Government-written prayers in public schools are unconstitutional; strengthened separation of church and state.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Facts: Gideon, too poor to afford an attorney, was denied counsel and convicted.

Issue: Does the 6th Amendment require states to provide counsel to the poor?

Impact: Right to counsel was incorporated; states must provide attorneys in felony cases.

Gitlow v. New York (1925)

Facts: Gitlow was arrested for distributing socialist material advocating revolution.

Issue: Does the 1st Amendment apply to the states?

Impact: Began selective incorporation; states must respect free speech protections.

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Facts: A challenge to new death-penalty procedures after Furman v. Georgia.

Issue: Is the death penalty unconstitutional under the 8th Amendment?

Impact: Death penalty upheld if applied fairly; “guided discretion” sentencing created.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Facts: States reimbursed private (religious) schools for teacher salaries/materials.

Issue: Do such payments violate the Establishment Clause?

Impact: Created the Lemon Test (secular purpose, no religious effect, no excessive entanglement).

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Facts: Police illegally searched Mapp’s home and found incriminating evidence.

Issue: Can states use illegally obtained evidence?

Impact: Incorporated the exclusionary rule to the states under the 4th Amendment.

McCleskey v. Kemp (1987)

Facts: McCleskey argued that statistical racial disparities made the death penalty unconstitutional.

Issue: Do racial disparities violate equal protection?

Impact: Court required proof of intentional discrimination, not just statistics; high bar for racial bias claims.

Miami Herald v. Tornillo (1974)

Facts: Florida required newspapers to publish replies from criticized candidates.

Issue: Can the government force newspapers to publish material?

Impact: Such laws violate freedom of the press; editorial control is protected.

Miller v. California (1973)

Facts: Miller mailed unsolicited adult material; convicted under obscenity laws.

Issue: What counts as “obscenity” not protected by the First Amendment?

Impact: Created the Miller Test defining obscenity via community standards.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Facts: Miranda confessed without knowing his right to silence or counsel.

Issue: Must police notify suspects of their 5th Amendment rights?

Impact: Established Miranda warnings (“right to remain silent,” etc.).

NAACP v. Alabama (1954)

Facts: Alabama demanded NAACP membership lists.

Issue: Does forced disclosure violate freedom of association?

Impact: Protected privacy of association; prevented states from targeting groups.

Near v. Minnesota (1931)

Facts: A newspaper was stopped from publishing critical articles.

Issue: Can the government impose prior restraint?

Impact: The Court banned prior restraint, protecting press freedom.

New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

Facts: Public official sued the NYT for libel over errors in an ad.

Issue: What standards apply when officials claim libel?

Impact: Created “actual malice” standard; greatly expanded press freedom.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

Facts: Pennsylvania added various abortion restrictions.

Issue: Can states regulate abortion without violating Roe?

Impact: Reaffirmed Roe; created “undue burden” test; allowed more regulation.

Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC (1969)

Facts: The FCC fairness doctrine required broadcasters to provide balanced coverage.

Issue: Is government regulation of broadcasters constitutional?

Impact: Upheld broadcast regulation due to spectrum scarcity; more limits than print media.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Facts: A Texas law banned nearly all abortions.

Issue: Does the Constitution protect abortion choice?

Impact: Right to abortion established via privacy; created a trimester framework.

Roth v. United States (1957)

Facts: Roth was convicted of mailing obscene materials.

Issue: Is obscenity protected speech?

Impact: Obscenity is not protected; set early community-standards test.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Facts: Anti-draft leaflets led to espionage charges during WWI.

Issue: Can speech encouraging draft resistance be restricted?

Impact: Established “clear and present danger” test for limiting speech.

Abington Township v. Schempp (1963)

Facts: Public schools required Bible reading.

Issue: Does school Bible reading violate the Establishment Clause?

Impact: Yes — government-sponsored religious activities in school are unconstitutional.

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Facts: Johnson burned a flag in protest and was arrested.

Issue: Is flag-burning protected speech?

Impact: Flag burning is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)

Facts: Ohio school vouchers were used at religious schools.

Issue: Do vouchers violate the Establishment Clause?

Impact: Upheld vouchers if neutral and based on private choice.

Zurcher v. Stanford Daily (1976)

Facts: Police searched a newspaper’s office for photos of a protest.

Issue: Do newsrooms have special protections from searches?

Impact: No warrants can be used if probable cause exists; the press has no immunity from searches.