LILLIAN MARPLE CLASS-2027 - Court Cases
Court Cases Overview
The Supreme Court justia.com website provides many Justices' opinions that are not covered in the PowerPoint.
United States v. Thomas Cooper (1800)
Case Background
Not a Supreme Court case but a criminal case regarding the Sedition Act.
Cooper was charged for violating the Sedition Act in Philadelphia in April 1800, before the government moved to Washington D.C.
Difficulty in finding information on this case; may revise it in the future.
Key Figures
Thomas Cooper: English lawyer and radical, moved to the U.S. in 1794, arrested for a handbill written earlier.
Key attendees at trial: Secretaries of war, state, navy, and Congressman Robert Goodloe Harper.
Judge Timothy Pickering: Sat on the bench with Justice Samuel Chase and District Judge Richard Peters.
Indictment Details
Attorney General: William Rawle handled the government case.
Cooper was indicted for intending to defame the President, promote hatred against him, and bring him into contempt.
Cooper's Defense
Questions about government actions raised by his writings included criticisms of military expenses, loans at high-interest rates, and presidential influence over the courts.
Cooper pleaded not guilty, using truth as a defense, aiming to advocate for Jeffersonians’ election.
His defense criticized President Adams and called for freedom of discussion concerning public figures.
Jury Considerations
Justice Chase acted as a prosecutor, emphasizing Cooper's defiance against the government.
The jury was warned against acquitting Cooper, fearing repercussions under the Sedition Act.
The eventual verdict resulted in Cooper being fined $400 and imprisoned for six months.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Case Background
Established during President John Adams’s term, William Marbury was appointed as a justice of the peace.
Appointments made at the end of Adams's presidency were not finalized, leading Marbury to sue for his job.
Legal Questions Raised
Is Marbury entitled to his appointment?
Was his lawsuit the correct method to seek relief?
Does the Supreme Court have the authority to review the case?
Court's Conclusion
Unanimous decision in favor of Marbury, but the Court couldn't grant it due to a conflict found in Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 with Article III of the Constitution.
Established the principle that Acts of Congress conflicting with the Constitution are void, establishing judicial review.
Fletcher v. Peck (1810)
Case Background
Originated from a land grant by Georgia state legislature in 1795, later voided; a portion was sold to Robert Fletcher by John Peck.
Legal Questions
Could the contract between Fletcher and Peck be invalidated by Georgia’s legislature?
Court's Conclusion
Unanimous decision for Peck, holding that the Georgia legislature's repeal of the law was unconstitutional under the Contracts Clause.
The Court ruled that the sale agreement was valid under the Constitution, emphasizing the integrity of contracts.
Martin v. Hunter's Lessee (1816)
Case Background
Denny Martin inherited property seized during the Revolution, which Virginia courts ruled void based on state law.
Legal Questions
Is the Supreme Court's appellate authority over state courts unconstitutional?
Court's Conclusion
Unanimous decision for Martin, validating the U.S. Supreme Court's authority to review state court decisions interpreting federal law.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Case Background
Congress chartered the Second Bank; Maryland imposed a tax on it, leading to McCulloch’s refusal to pay and subsequent court case.
Legal Questions
Did Congress have the authority to establish the bank?
Did Maryland's law interfere with federal powers?
Court's Conclusion
The Court ruled that Maryland could not tax instruments of the national government; the case affirmed federal powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause.
Cohen v. Virginia (1821)
Case Background
Cohen brothers sold D.C. lottery tickets in Virginia, violating state law; they were convicted and questioned the supreme court's review power.
Legal Questions
Did the Supreme Court have the power to review state rulings?
Court's Conclusion
Court affirmed its jurisdiction over state court judgments in cases involving federal laws; concluded state laws repugnant to the Constitution are void.
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
Case Background
Worcester and others were convicted for residing in Cherokee territory without a license; they argued the law violated federal treaties and laws.
Legal Questions
Does Georgia have authority to regulate intercourse with the Cherokee Nation?
Court's Conclusion
Decision established Cherokee Nation's independence from state law; Georgia's law was nullified as it interfered with federal authority.
Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842)
Case Background
Prigg captured a woman under a state law prohibiting removal for enslavement; he was convicted for violating the law.
Legal Questions
Did Pennsylvania law violate the Constitution and the Fugitive Slave Act?
Court's Conclusion
The law was unconstitutional as it conflicted with both the Constitution and the Fugitive Slave Act, establishing federal supremacy in cases of fugitive slaves.