IMPORTANT SUPREME

COURT CASES

OBJECTIVE
Students will interpret and dramatize essential
Supreme Court cases in groups.

RH.9-10.2 Determine the central ideas or

information of a primary or secondary source; provide
an accurate summary of how key events or ideas
develop over the course of the text.

WARM UP
Name two Supreme Court cases and explain why they
are important.

AGENDA
Objective
Warm Up
Review Supreme Court Cases
Charades Game & Worksheet

MARBURY V. MADISON (1803)

Federalist v. Republican
Former president John Adams created a lot of new
judgeships right before he was to leave offi ce.
He appointed judges who would support the Federalists.
Thomas Jeff erson (Rep.) came into offi ce and cancelled
all the new jobs.
One of the judges wanted his job and took his case to
the Supreme Court.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: This case established that the
Supreme Court has the right to determine whether a
law is constitutional or unconstitutional.

MCCULLOCH V. MARYLAND (1819)

Back in the day, some people thought that having a
national bank was unconstitutional.
Maryland state passed a law saying that all banks not
sponsored by the state had to pay a huge tax.
McCulloch was a bank cashier and refused to pay this
tax. He took his case to the Supreme Court.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The Supreme Court ruled
that the federal govt is superior to the state govt.

PLESSY V. FERGUSON (1896)

Homer Plessy bought a fi rst class ticket to ride a train
in Louisiana.
He was arrested for not sitting in
the colored section of the train.
He appealed to the Supreme Court.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The Supreme Court ruled
against Plessy. They thought that it was ok for races
to be separated as long as the facilities were equal.

BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION

(1954)
Linda Brown went to an all-black school that was far
away even though there was an all-white elementary
school a block from her house.
The Browns sued to have Linda go to the school
closest to her home.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The
Supreme Court ruled that separate
really isnt equal. Schools and other
businesses were ordered to
desegregate.

GIDEON V. WAINWRIGHT (1963)

Clarence Gideon was a drifter who was arrested for
breaking into a pool hall.
When he went to court, he could not aff ord a lawyer
and asked that he be appointed one.
The court refused and he was found guilty.
While in jail, Gideon studied law and asked for the
Supreme Court to review his case.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The Supreme Court ruled
that everyone has the right to stand trail and receive
counsel.

MIRANDA V. ARIZONA (1966)

Miranda was arrested and charged with kidnapping
and raping a young woman.
He was questioned for 2 hours and confessed. The
police never told him that he had the right to remain
silent or have an attorney present.
He was found guilty, but he appealed to the Supreme
Court that his confession violated his 5 t h Amendment
protection of self- incrimination.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The Supreme Court ruled
that the police must read you your rights whenever
you are arrested.

TINKER V. DESMOINES SCHOOL

DISTRICT (1969)
John and Mary Beth Tinker wore black armbands to
school to protest the Vietnam War.
The school suspended them.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: The Supreme Court ruled
that suspending the students violated their freedom
of expression. Students are allowed to express
themselves as long as it does not disrupt the school.

NEW JERSEY V. T.L.O (1985)

Two girls were caught smoking in the bathroom. One
admitted to it but T.L.O denied it.
The administrator searched her purse and found
cigarettes and marijuana.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: Schools need reasonable
cause to search students belongings.