“You have the right…”

June 13 marks the 46th anniversary of the landmark decision, Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).  Joined by Justices Black, Douglas, Brennan and Fortas,  Chief Justice Earl Warren delivered the opinion of the court.  The Miranda warning against self-incrimination...

Brown v. Board of Education

“Equal means getting the same thing at the same time and in the same place.”  ~Thurgood Marshall May 17 marks the 58th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).  Overturning Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), Brown unanimously...

The Supreme Court and the Civil War

Check out our current display, “The Supreme Court and the Civil War,” which highlights some of the Court’s major decisions of the time.  Two habeas corpus cases are featured – Ex parte Merryman, 17 F. Cas. 144 (C.C.D. Md. 1861) (No. 9487)), and Ex parte...

Oral Argument on Health Care Reform

On March 26-28, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the consolidated cases challenging the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (amended by the Health Care and Reconciliation Act of 2010).  The Court announced that oral arguments will not be...

Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963)

On March 18, 1963, the Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment’s right to counsel was a fundamental right that applied to the states through the 14th Amendment.  “That government hires lawyers to prosecute and defendants who have the money hire lawyers...