Browse all the Lawforwa Resources on Historic Supreme Court Decisions

Resource Description:

Questions answered by the resource:

District of Columbia v. Heller
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-29
Source: United States Supreme Court

2008 Supreme Court case holding that the Second Amendment of the Constitution protects an individual's right to bear arms. It is the first Supreme Court case that definitively speaks to the issue of whether it is constitutional for an individual to bear arms or or if that right only applies to a collective body or militia.
full description

• When is it allowable to carry a firearm?
• How can the government regulate guns?
• How do "people" and "militia" differ from one another in the Second Amendment?
• How must guns be stored in an individual's home?
• What kind of guns are civilians allowed to have?

Engel v. Vitale
http://supreme.justia.com/us/370/421/case.html
Source: Justia

The complete 1962 U.S Supreme Court opinion in Engel v. Vitale, which held that state officials may not compose an official prayer and require its reading in public schools at the beginning of each school day, even if the prayer is nondemoninational and students may exclude themselves from participation.
full description

• What was Engel v. Vitale?
• What is the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment?
• What court decisions relate to freedom of religion?
• Does school prayer violate the Establishment Clause?
• Is school prayer constitutional?
• Do students have a right to freedom from religion in public schools?
• Do students have a right not to say a prayer in school?

Roe v. Wade
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/history/A0842237.ht
Source: Factmonster.com

This site contains a summary of Roe v. Wade as well as a brief history of court rulings regarding abortion. The case concerned two women who sought abortions in states that restricted access to them.
full description

• What was Roe v. Wade?
• What does Roe v. Wade say?
• When was Roe v. Wade decided?
• What Supreme Court case involved abortion?
• Who wrote Roe v. Wade?

Roe v. Wade
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/
Source: Cornell Law School/The Legal Information Institute

This site contains the complete text of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, whch established abortion as a fundamental right guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
full description

• What was Roe v. Wade?
• What does Roe v. Wade say?
• When was Roe v. Wade decided?
• What Supreme Court case involved abortion?
• Who wrote Roe v. Wade?

Plessy v. Ferguson
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/history/A0839368.ht
Source: Factmonster.com

The site contains a summary of the events leading up to Plessy v. Ferguson and the establishment of the "separate but equal" doctrine. In this decision the Court upheld a Louisiana statute requiring racially segregated but equal railroad cars. The site also contains a link to an explanation of Jim Crow laws.
full description

• What was Plessy v. Ferguson?
• What are some landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions?
• When was Plessy v. Ferguson decided?
• Who wrote the decision in Plessy v. Ferguson?
• What are Jim Crow laws?
• What cases addressed the issue of "separate but equal"? What case led up to the Brown v. Board of Education decision?
• What cases are related to the 14th Amendment and equal protection?