Bill Of Rights
Arianna Bowlin, 12/19/14, Period 6 Williams
What are the Bill of Rights?
Freedom of Speech, Press, and Religion
Court Case; Rosenburg v. Board of Education of City of New York
Oliver Twist and Merchant of Venice were banned in New York schools and libraries. The Supreme Court of New York said that although they had good intentions, the books shouldn't be banned.
Right to Bear Arms
Court Case; District of Columbia v. Heller
District of Columbia law states that you must register and have a license to keep a firearm. Heller filed a lawsuit against this, as it goes against the Second amendment. Heller won the case.
Quartering of Troops
Court Case: Griswold v. Connecticut
The police forced themselves into Griswold's home to provide themselves a tactical advantage to the house next door. Griswold filed a lawsuit. Griswold won the trial.
Warrant Clause
Court Case; Katz v. United States
Katz was charged with conducting an illegal gambling operation. To prove this, the police wiretapped a phone booth to listen to Katz's conversations. Katz's counter in the trial was that the police did not have a warrant to wiretap the phones and was therefore violating the fourth amendment. Katz was fined $50.
Right to Remain Silent
Court Case; Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Segregated schools were against the fourteenth amendment. In addition to Bolling v. Sharpe, the Court struck down segregated schools in Washington, DC. Being a federal city, the Court pleaded the Fifth as an excuse to not state an opinion.
Right to a Fair Trial
Court Case; Sheppard v. Maxwell
Sam Sheppard was accused of murdering his pregnant wife. He was tried and convicted. The Court agreed Sheppard didn't receive a fair trial because of the widespread of negative media about him. The Court concluded the trial should have either been postponed or transferred.
Rights in a Civil Cases
Court Case; Lavender v. Kurn
Lavender sued Haney, who unfortunately died from a head injury while working as a switch tender for companies represented by Kurn. A the trial, Lavender tried to persuade that Haney died from a nail hook injury, but Haney's defendant that Haney died from leaving the switch on as the train passed by. The verdict was in favor of Lavender but the Missouri Supreme Court reinstated it because he did not have any proof.
Fair Punishment
Court Case; Francis v. Resweber
Willie Francis was executed in an electric chair. Due to complications, he lived. Francis' lawyer said a second execution would be unconstitutional. The case was lost and Francis was soon executed in May 1947.
Rights Retained
Court Case; Roe v. Wade
Norma McCorvey, known as Roe, had to leave her husband after he abused her. She left her child with her mom as she travelled with the circus. Roe got pregnant again and knew she couldn't keep the baby and needed an abortion. Lawyers used Roe's case as a plan to overturn abortion laws. Lawyers won the case.
States' Power
Court Case; United States v. Lopez
Lopez, a Texas senior, brought a handgun to school. He was arrested for violating the Gun-Free Act of 1990. The Supreme Court thought that Congress was abusing its power when it passed that act, so it was overturned. Thus, Lopez "won."