Law and Society Course Page, Arthur, RIC

Cases for Case Briefing Assignment

Go to cases for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th case briefing date. Some case links may require a username and password; if you would like to register for emails from FindLaw you should go ahead and make your own login, or you can use the one set up for the course: email address/username ricfindlaw@yahoo.com, password scotus (be sure to ender in lower case). Unless noted otherwise, all decisions linked here are from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Court Case Briefing I: Key Classic Cases

Due in class, Thursday, October 2nd

Luther v. Borden: Which was the official government of the State of Rhode Island in 1849?

Marbury v. Madison: Can the Supreme Court invalidate the laws of Congress (1803)?

Brown v. Board of Ed: Is school segregation by race constitutional (1954)?

Roe v. Wade: Can states criminalize abortion (1973)?

Tinker v. De Moines School District: Do public school students have the right to freedom of speech (1969)?

Court Case Briefing II: Crime and Responses to Crime

Due in class, Tuesday October 21 (section03)/Thursday, October 23 (section02)

Miranda v. Arizona: What are the rights of individuals in police custody (1966)?

Gideon v. Wainright: Are criminal defendants entitled to an attorney (1963)?

Kennedy v. Louisiana: Can child rapists be executed (2008)?

McCleskey v. Kemp: What evidence is required to prove that sentencing laws are racially discriminatory (1987)?

Mapp v. Ohio: Can evidence obtained through illegal searches be used in court (1961)?

Court Case Briefing III: Law and Inequality

Due in class, Thursday, November 2nd (section02)/Tuesday, November 4th (section03)

Buck v. Bell: Can individuals who are supposed to be intellectually disabled be steralized against their will (1927)?

Plessy v. Ferguson: Is racial segregation constitutional (1896)?

Lawrence v. Texas: Do individuals have a right to sexual privacy (2003)?

US v. Thind: Are South Asians white and thus elligible for citizenship (1923)?

US v. Virginia: Can military academies prohibit female students (1996)?

Court Case Briefing IV: Controversial Legal Issues

Due in class, Monday November 24 (section02)/Tuesday November 25 (section03)

DC vs. Heller: Can cities ban guns (2008)?

Goodridge v. Dept of Health: Do same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry (2003, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court)?

Massachusetts v. EPA: Is the Environmental Protection Agency required to regulate greenhouse gasses (2007)?

Korematsu v. US: Can Japanese Americans be placed in interment camps (1944)?

Texas v. Johnson: Does flag burning count as protected free speech (1989)?

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