Culture war
Yiwei Sun 2nd
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) 7-2
The issues:
The law passed in 1879 was almost never enforced.
The rights involved:
It involved a Connecticut law that prohibited the use of "any drug, medicinal article, or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception."
Impact:
Although Bill of Rights doesn’t mention “privacy”, some said that the right was to be found in the other constitutional protections, and some said no.
Historical significance:
The Constitution protected a right to privacy.
Romer v. Evans (1996)6-3
The issues:
The state constitutional amendment in Colorado preventing protected status based upon homosexuality or bisexuality did not satisfy the Equal Protection Clause.
The right involved:
Equal Protection Clause. ( fourteenth Amendment)
Impact:
It was the first Supreme Court case to addressed gay rights since Bowers v. Hardwick(1986), when the Court had held that laws criminalizing sodomy were constitutional.
Historical significant:
Stay conservative. The Court's opinion in Romer did not closely follow established equal protection doctrine.
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)5-4
The issue:
McDonald legally owned shotguns, but believed them too unwieldy in the event of a robbery, and wanted to purchase a handgun for personal home defense.
The rights involved:
The Second Amendment.
Impact:
The control of handgun was sure because of the uncertainty left in the wake of District of Columbia v. Heller.
Historical significant:
The Court held that the right of an individual to "keep and bear arms". It effected a broad handgun ban.
Wisconsin v. Yoda (1972)7-0
The issues:
Three Amish students from three different families stopped attending New Glarus High School in the New Glarus, Wisconsin school district at the end of the eighth grade, all due to their parents' religious beliefs.
The right involved:
Parent’s right to educate their children.
Impact:
Educating and religion are related.
Historical significant:
States cannot force individuals to attend school when it infringes on their First Amendment rights. In this case, the state of Wisconsin interfered with the practice of a legitimate religious belief. Found the National Committee for Amish Religious Freedom