SUPREME COURT

CASES

B Y : C A R O L I N A S I L VA
PERIOD 6
 BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION
1954
-What is this case about?
An African-American girl, called Linda Brown lived near a white school. But she couldn’t go
there, she had to go to this black school that was far away from where she lived.
-What happened?
Linda took the case to the federal district court, which decided that the segregation in public
schools was harmful for black kids, and it also decided that the segregation was legal, because all black
schools had equal transportation, educational qualifications, and curricula. However, Linda appealed
her case to the U.S Supreme Court.
Constitutional Issue - school segregation violates the 14 th Amendment, because it addresses the
citizens right, equal protection of law.
SUPREME COURT’S
DECISION

The Supreme Court

decided that the case Brown
V. Board of Education
violated Linda Brown’s 14th
Amendment because the
segregation of schools was
against the Equal Protection
Clause from the 14th
Amendment and it violated
the citizens’ right.
 MIRANDA V. ARIZONA
1966
-What is this case about?
Ernesto Miranda is a man that lived in Phoenix, Arizona. He was accused of rape and
kidnapping. He was questioned by police officers without an attorney, and the officers didn’t give
him the right to remain silent violating his 5th Amendment.
-What happened?
His lawyer appealed the case to the Supreme Court because of the violations.
Constitutional Issue- He was interrogated without his lawyer, violating his 6 th Amendment. He
was interrogated without knowing that he had the right to remain silent, which now violates the
5th Amendment.
SUPREME COURT’S
DECISION

Most people concluded that

defendants arrested should
know the right against self-
incrimination and the
presence of an attorney
doing an interrogation.
The Court did the
interrogations again, but
respecting the amendments
that were violated. At the
end, Miranda was
considered guilty.
 PLESSY V. FERGUSON
1896
-What is this case about?
The state of Louisiana created a law (Separate Car Act) which required white people to sit in the
part that said white only, and the African-American had to sit in the colored part only. This African-
American called Homer Adolph Plessy, decided to sit in the white part and he refused to get up.
-What happened?
He was arrested for violating the Separate Car Act. He argued in court that the Act violated his 13 th
(no slavery) and 14th (equal protection of rights) Amendments. He lost in the lower court two times, so
he took the case to the U.S Supreme Court.
Constitutional Issue- The Separate Car Act violated Plessy’s 13 th & 14th Amendment by not giving
African-Americans the same rights as white people.
SUPREME COURT’S
DECISION

The Supreme Court

decided that the segregation
was against the 14th
Amendment, because the
Act went against the Equal
Protection Clause.
 GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT
1963
-What is this case about?
A man called Clarence Earl Gideon was arrested and charged by breaking in and entering. He
couldn’t afford a lawyer, so in trial he asked the judge to appoint one for him. The judge denied his
request, which violates the 6th Amendment.
-What happened?
He was considered guilty and sent prison. During prison time, he studied law in prison library and
he found out that his 6th Amendment was violated. This study led him to file a petition for habeas
corpus to the supreme court.
Constitutional Issue- His 6th Amendment was violated because he didn’t get a lawyer during court
interrogation.
SUP REME COURT’S
DECISION

The Supreme court

decided to interrogate him
again, but not violating any
of the 27 amendments. At
the end, he was found
innocent.
 MARBURY V. MADISON
1803
-What is this case about?