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Government Unit Five Supreme Court Cases Plessy v. Ferguson In 1896 the Supreme Court established the precedent of “separate but equal.” This term, in essence, is legalized segregation. Brown v. Board of Education Decision: May 1954 Facts of the Case Black children were denied admission to public schools attended by white children under laws requiring or permitting segregation according to the races. The white and black schools approached equality in terms of buildings, curricula, qualifications, and teacher salaries. This case was decided together with Briggs v. Elliott and Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County. Question Does the segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race deprive the minority children of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment? Your Opinion Conclusion Escobedo v. Illinois Decision: June 1964 Facts of the Case Danny Escobedo was arrested and taken to a police station for questioning. Over several hours, the police refused his repeated requests to see his lawyer. Escobedo's lawyer sought unsuccessfully to consult with his client. Escobedo subsequently confessed to murder. Question Was Escobedo denied the right to counsel as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment? Your Opinion Conclusion Miranda v. Arizona Decision: June 1966 Facts of the Case Ernesto Miranda was a poor Mexican immigrant living in Phoenix, Arizona in 1963. A Phoenix woman was kidnapped and raped. She identified Miranda in a police lineup. Miranda was arrested, charged with the crimes, and questioned by the police for two hours. The police officers questioning him did not inform him of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination or of his Sixth Amendment right to the assistance of an attorney. As a result of the questioning, Miranda confessed in writing to the crimes. His statement also said that he was aware of his right against self-incrimination. During his trial, the prosecution used his confession to obtain a conviction, and he was sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison on each count. Question Does the police practice of interrogating individuals without notifiying them of their right to counsel and their protection against self-incrimination violate the Fifth Amendment? Your Opinion Conclusion Snyder v. Phelps Decision: March 2011 Facts of the Case The family of deceased Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder filed a lawsuit against members of the Westboro Baptist Church who picketed at his funeral. The family accused the church and its founders of defamation, invasion of privacy and the intentional infliction of emotional distress for displaying signs that said, "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "Fag troops" at Snyder's funeral. U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett awarded the family $5 million in damages, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that the judgment violated the First Amendment's protections on religious expression. The church members' speech is protected, "notwithstanding the distasteful and repugnant nature of the words." Question Does the First Amendment protect protesters at a funeral from liability for intentionally inflicting emotional distress on the family of the deceased? Your Opinion Conclusion Roe v. Wade Decision: January 1973 Facts of the Case Jane Roe, (not her real name), was an unmarried and pregnant Texas resident in 1970. She wanted to have an abortion, but Texas abortion law made it a felony to abort a fetus unless “on medical advice for the purpose of saving the life of the mother.” Roe filed suit against Wade, the district attorney of Dallas County, Texas to challenge the law outlawing abortion. Question Does the Constitution embrace a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy by abortion? Your Opinion Conclusion Nix v. Williams Decision: June 1984 Facts of the Case Williams was convicted of murdering a 10-year-old girl after he led officers to the body. He had been arrested, but not advised of his rights, in a distant city, and in transit, he had conversed with a police officer. Williams agreed that the child should have a proper burial and directed the officer to the body. Searchers were within two and a half miles of the girl’s body when Williams disclosed the location. Later, on appeal, Williams’ attorneys argued that the body should not be admitted as evidence because the questioning was illegal. Question Should evidence resulting in an arrest be excluded from trial because it was improperly obtained? Your Opinion Conclusion California v. Greenwood Decision: May 1988 Facts of the Case Local police suspected Billy Greenwood was dealing drugs from his residence. Because the police did not have enough evidence for a warrant to search his home, they searched the garbage bags Greenwood had left at the curb for pickup. The police uncovered evidence of drug use, which was then used to obtain a warrant to search the house. That search turned up illegal substances, and Greenwood was arrested on felony charges. Question Did the warrantless search and seizure of Greenwood's garbage violate the Fourth Amendment's search and seizure guarantee? Your Opinion Conclusion Texas v. Johnson Decision: June 1989 Facts of the Case In 1984, in front of the Dallas City Hall, Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag as a means of protest against Reagan administration policies. Johnson was tried and convicted under a Texas law outlawing flag desecration. He was sentenced to one year in jail and assessed a $2,000 fine. After the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the conviction, the case went to the Supreme Court. Question Is the desecration of an American flag, by burning or otherwise, a form of speech that is protected under the First Amendment? Your Opinion Conclusion