Landmark Supreme Court Cases Notes

Landmark Supreme Court Cases (Part 1 of 4)

Objective

  • Recap highlights of precedents set by major Supreme Court cases.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

  • People: Marbury (wanted to become a judge) v. Madison (Secretary of State).
  • Question/Crux: Did the Supreme Court have to force President Jefferson to allow Marbury to become a judge?
  • Factors Considered: The Supreme Court was not yet equal to other branches.
  • Holding/Ruling: No. The Supreme Court did not have to force President Jefferson to allow Marbury to become a judge.
  • Importance: This case is important because of what the decision established: Judicial Review.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

  • People: Homer Plessy v. Judge Ferguson of Louisiana
  • Question/Crux: Should segregation be allowed? Can separate be equal?
  • Factors Considered: There was a separate facility (railroad car) for African-Americans.
  • Holding/Ruling: Segregation IS lawful because separate CAN be equal.

Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka (1954)

  • People: Brown family v. Board of Education (BoE) in Topeka, Kansas.
  • Question/Crux: Is separate really equal? Is segregation legal?
  • Factors Considered: The black school was sub-standard compared to the white school; Plessy v. Ferguson.
  • Holding/Ruling: Plessy v. Ferguson overturned; Separate is not equal, schools are integrated.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

  • People: Ernesto Miranda v. State of Arizona
  • Question/Crux: Does not reading someone their rights violate the 5th amendment?
  • Factors Considered: Miranda confessed to a crime, BUT did not know his rights.
  • Holding/Ruling: A person must be informed of “Miranda Rights” when arrested. "Anything you say can and will be used against you…"

US v. Nixon (1974)

  • People: President Richard Nixon’s impeachment by US Congress
  • Question/Crux: Did the President have to hand over his recorded conversations possibly incriminating him in Watergate?
  • Factors Considered: “Executive Privilege” allows private/protected speech between the President and his aides.
  • Holding/Ruling: Executive Privilege is not absolute & the President can be forced to disclose private conversations if he is in violation of the law.