Landmark+Cases


 * Please carefully follow the directions below IN ORDER. DO NOT skip steps.**

Happy learning!

Step 1 - Look at the bottom of this page to see who is responsible for which case.

Step 2 - Learn about the Background of your case by clicking here, then clicking on the name of your case (lower right under "Cases"), and clicking on the "Background" tab. (You will see three levels of reading indicated by one dot (lowest), two dots (middle) and three dots (highest), start with level 2 and then read level 3. Check level 1 if you still have questions about your case.

Step 3 - [|Go back to this link] and click again on your case name. Below the vocabulary, you should see "**How this case moved through the Courts**" - click on it and be sure you understand it. Look up anything you need to in order for it to make sense.

Step 4 - Go to Oyez.org. In the search box or searching by year, find your case (sometimes it is enough to search for one of the last names!). Use the information you find to read its summary (again), learn more about your case including clarifying the constitutional issues/questions and determining the outcome of the case including which justices voted in the minority, majority, who wrote opinions, etc.

Step 5 - Check the "Digital History" and Cornell's SCOTUS resources to see if any additional information about your case is available.

Step 6 - Use the OYEZ site on Justices to learn about the Justices who were on the bench for your case. Be sure to learn about which president appointed them and their political leanings if possible. (Liberal, conservative, a party possibly, etc).

Step 7 - Read the opinions of your case found either through landmarkcases.org or OYEZ. What stands out to you? What surprises you?

Step 8 - Find at least three quotations, that you believe are significant to your case. These could be from briefs, opinions, politicians who reference it, wherever that seems appropriate. (When in doubt, ask!)

Step 9 - Complete a google search and a bing search for your case both by its name and the name and brief (e.g. Brown v Board of Education Brief). What additional/supportive/helpful information do you learn? Make notes of/bookmark them.

//**NOW**// you are ready to start your presentation.

Step 10 - Using your TG Student Google Docs Account, click "Create New" and select "Presentation"

Your presentation should include the following, but remember, when you make your slides, make them interesting - DO NOT clutter them with too much text. Make your points and **use images**.
 * A title slide with the name of your case, your first name, and, in one sentence, what your case did (see the "good" example)
 * A summary of the case
 * 1 slide with the reason(s) cert was granted
 * The Parties in the case (attorneys, clients, justices, any other significant people)
 * The path the case took to get to the Supreme Court
 * The Court’s decision and details of it.
 * The effect this decision had/has on society
 * Visuals which are appropriate and supportive to your slides.
 * Links to helpful websites
 * At least one quote (up to three) from your case.

EXAMPLE OF GOOD (not too much text, designed to support a speaker, not replace him/her!) media type="custom" key="11015478" Example of Bad (too much text, no speaker required and all the viewers would do is write down the text!) media type="custom" key="11015502"

Step 11 - Turn in your presentation by clicking here and following the directions.

This is an **individual learning activity**. Even though you see someone else has your topic, you are to work alone.

[|Brown v. Board of Education] [|(1954)]  - Cerissa, Rachel, Taylor

[|Dred Scott v. Sandford] [|(1857)]  - Julia, Kurt, Zack R

[|Gideon v. Wainwright] [|(1963)]  - Ashley, Megan, Pat [|Korematsu v. United States] [|(1944)]  - Shahid, Jayna, Sam O

[|Mapp v. Ohio] [|(1961)] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Maddie, Taylor, Ben R (If you are not comfortable with this case, please look at [|Texas v. Johnson] [|(1989)] instead)

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Miranda v. Arizona] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #808080; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|(1966)] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Beth C, Eric, Alex

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|New Jersey v. T.L.O.] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #808080; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|(1985)] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Danny, Shelby, Zack T

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Plessy v. Ferguson] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #808080; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|(1896)] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Melissa, Matt, Sarah <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Tinker v. Des Moines] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #808080; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|(1969)] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Alyssa, Paige, Darian