You and Your Group Will Be Assigned a Supreme Court Case to Research and Present to the Class

Supreme Court Cases

Overview:

You and your group will choose a Supreme Court case from the list provided to research and present to the class based on the guidelines outlined on this page. No more than 1 group per case. No more than 4 people per group.

Your presentation must:

·  Be in the form of a PowerPoint presentation

·  Include all the information listed below

Your presentation must include:

·  Detailed background of what the dispute is about

·  How the case got to the Supreme Court:

o  Where it originated and what path it took to get to the Supreme Court

o  The ruling of each of the lower courts that heard the case before it reached the Supreme Court

·  Describe both sides of the argument (majority and dissenting opinions)

·  How the Supreme Court ruled on the issue

·  A formal bibliography (MLA style) on the last slide

You must:

·  Print a copy of the slides for me to view. This can be done in handout form (6 slides/page).

·  Obviously, given the fact that it is a presentation, your group must present the required information to the class orally in conjunction with your PowerPoint.

o  While I don’t expect you to be theatrical when you present you should at the very least:

§  Speak loud enough for the class to hear

§  Speak clearly

§  Make eye contact with your audience

IMPORTANT NOTES:

**This will be your first grade on 4th quarter. It will be a project grade**

BE SURE TO REVIEW THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE YOU PRESENT AND TURN IN YOUR SLIDES TO ENSURE YOU INCLUDED ALL THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS.

If you are one who despises public speaking, we can discuss other methods of relaying the information to your classmates. BUT, this must be discussed and approved by me in advance.

Cases:

1.  WYETH v. LEVINE

Drug injury case

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/06-1249.ZS.html

2.  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA etal. v. HELLER

Handgun possession

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/07-290.ZS.html

3.  ARIZONA v. JOHNSON

Legality of a pat down or “stop and frisk” at traffic stops http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/07-1122.ZS.html

4.  PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA V. CASEY

Abortion privacy and parent consent

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/91-744.ZO.html

5.  PHILIP MORRIS USA v. WILLIAMS, personal representative of ESTATE OF WILLIAMS, DECEASED

Can damages be paid to the deceased of someone who suffered from cigarettes?

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/05-1256.ZS.html

http://topics.law.cornell.edu/supct/cert/07-1216

6.  ILLINOIS, PETITIONER v. ROY I. CABALLES

Do officers need any evidence to have drug dogs sniff your car?

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-923.ZO.html

7.  THOMPSON v. OKLAHOMA

Is death penalty for those 16 under cruel and unusual punishment?

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0487_0815_ZS.html

8.  PENRY v. LYNAUGH

Is it unconstitutional to execute a mentally retarded person found guilty of capital murder?

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0492_0302_ZS.html

9.  EDWARDS v. AGUILLARD

Does mandated teaching of creationism in addition to evolution in schools violate 1st amendment?

http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0482_0578_ZS.html

Other Resources:

If you need further information on your case, you can go to www.oyez.org