Facts of the Case Charles Kastigar and Michael Stewart were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury concerning their involvement in criminal activity. Both men refused to testify, invoking their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. However, the federal government offered them use immunity under the federal immunity statute, 18 U.S.C. § 6002. Under this statute, […]
Category: Court Case Library
New Jersey v. T.L.O. 1985
Facts of the Case In 1980, a teacher at Piscataway High School in New Jersey discovered two girls smoking in the school restroom, which was a violation of school rules. One of the students, identified as T.L.O. (a juvenile), denied smoking. The assistant vice principal searched T.L.O.’s purse and found cigarettes. While searching further, he […]
Brewer v. Williams, 1977
Facts of the Case In 1968, Robert Williams, who had recently escaped from a mental institution, was arrested for the abduction and murder of a 10-year-old girl, Pamela Powers, in Des Moines, Iowa. After Williams was arrested and had invoked his right to counsel, police officers decided to transport him from Davenport to Des Moines, […]
Nix v. Williams, 1984
Facts of the Case In 1968, Robert Williams, who had recently escaped from a mental hospital, abducted and killed a 10-year-old girl in Iowa. After his arrest, during the car ride back to Des Moines, Williams was not provided an attorney, despite his previous requests for one. During the ride, police engaged Williams in conversation […]
United States v. Leon, 1984
Facts of the Case In 1981, police officers in Burbank, California, obtained a search warrant to investigate Alberto Leon and others suspected of drug trafficking. The warrant was based on an affidavit provided by an informant, leading officers to conduct surveillance and eventually find large quantities of illegal drugs. Leon was indicted for federal drug […]
Brady v. Maryland, Supreme Court, 1963
Facts of the Case In 1958, John Brady and Charles Boblit were both convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the killing of William Brooks during a robbery in Maryland. Brady admitted his involvement in the robbery but claimed that Boblit was the one who actually committed the murder. During Brady’s trial, his […]
United States v. Cruikshank, 1876
Facts of the Case The Colfax Massacre of 1873 in Louisiana, where a white mob killed over 100 African Americans, led to federal charges under the Enforcement Act of 1870. The Act was meant to protect citizens’ constitutional rights, including the right to vote, the right to assemble, and the right to bear arms. William […]
Brandenburg v. Ohio, 1969
Facts of the Case Clarence Brandenburg, a leader of the Ku Klux Klan in Ohio, was convicted under the state’s criminal syndicalism law after giving a speech at a Klan rally. In his speech, Brandenburg made derogatory statements about minorities and suggested that “revengeance” might be necessary if the government continued to suppress the white […]
Lemon v. Kurtzman, Supreme Court, 1971
Facts of the Case Lemon v. Kurtzman involved challenges to state laws in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island that provided financial aid to religious schools. In Pennsylvania, the law allowed the state to reimburse religious schools for expenses related to teachers’ salaries, textbooks, and instructional materials in subjects that were also taught in public schools. In […]
Van Orden v. Perry, Supreme Court, 2005
Facts of the Case Thomas Van Orden, a Texas resident, challenged the constitutionality of a Ten Commandments monument that was located on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol in Austin. The monument, which had been donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 1961, was one of several monuments on the Capitol grounds. Van […]