Facts of the Case Lorie Smith, the owner of 303 Creative LLC, a web design company in Colorado, wanted to expand her business to include custom wedding websites. However, she intended to decline requests to create websites for same-sex weddings due to her religious beliefs that marriage should be between one man and one woman. […]
Author: jonesteaches
Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Supreme Court, 2018
Facts of the Case In 2012, Charlie Craig and David Mullins visited Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, to order a custom wedding cake for their same-sex marriage celebration. The shop’s owner, Jack Phillips, declined their request, citing his religious beliefs that opposed same-sex marriage. Craig and Mullins filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights […]
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., Supreme Court, 2014
Facts of the Case Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., a for-profit corporation owned by the Green family, operates under Christian principles. The Green family objected to providing certain forms of contraception through their company’s health insurance plan, as required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Specifically, they objected to methods that they believe prevent the implantation […]
Roth v. United States (1957)
Facts of the Case Samuel Roth, a New York City publisher and book distributor, was convicted under a federal statute for mailing obscene circulars and an obscene book in violation of the Comstock Act of 1873. The case was consolidated with Alberts v. California, in which David Alberts was convicted under a California statute for […]
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Facts of the Case In 1984, during the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, Gregory Lee Johnson participated in a political protest against the policies of the Reagan administration. As part of the protest, Johnson doused an American flag with kerosene and set it on fire while protesters chanted. He was arrested and charged under […]
Cohen v. California (1971)
Facts of the Case In 1968, Paul Robert Cohen was arrested in the Los Angeles County Courthouse for wearing a jacket emblazoned with the words “F*** the Draft” to protest the Vietnam War. He was charged under a California law that prohibited “maliciously and willfully disturbing the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or person […]
United States v. O’Brien (1968)
United States v. O’Brien, Supreme Court, 1968 Facts of the Case David Paul O’Brien burned his Selective Service registration card (draft card) on the steps of a Boston courthouse to protest the Vietnam War. He was arrested and convicted under a federal law that made it a crime to knowingly destroy or mutilate a draft […]
Cups & Ladders
Procrastinating isn’t lazy–it’s human! Our brains are hardwired to conserve energy. Learning, studying, and writing essays are all high-energy activities. Breaking high-energy activities into low-effort activities can help us complete these high-energy tasks and become more efficient. Get your cups in a row Starting a new chapter can feel overwhelming because we don’t know what’s […]
Grading System
This course has been re-designed in a way that facilitates and supports the kind of learning techniques you will be taught in this series, and a grading system that rewards growth over time. What follows below are the main tools and resources you’ll be using this year to be successful. The examples below are from […]
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Supreme Court, 2010 Facts of the Case Citizens United, a nonprofit corporation, produced a documentary film critical of then-Senator Hillary Clinton, who was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. The film, “Hillary: The Movie,” was intended for release during the 2008 primary season. Citizens United sought to run […]