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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.