Download Plessy v. Ferguson Brown v. Board of Education Escobedo v. Illinois

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