Today marks the 55th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Malloy v. Hogan[1]. Malloy[2] is a landmark case which incorporated the 5th amendment right against self-incrimination against the states, extending 5th amendment protections to state trials, and overturning the disastrous cases …
"Supreme Court"
Anniversary of Coffin v. United States: The Establishment of the Presumption of Innocence
Today marks the 124rd anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Coffin v. United States[1]. Coffin[2] was a landmark case which established the presumption of innocence of all people accused of crimes in the United States. The Case The case behind Coffin is a complex case of bank fraud …
Anniversary of Harris v. New York: Impeaching Miranda
Today marks the 48th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Harris v. New York[1]. The Harris[2] case marks the first major blow to the landmark holding of Miranda v. Arizona[3]. The case stands as the first major exception to the protections offered by Miranda[4], allowing the state to …
Anniversary of Berkemer v. McCarty: Guaranteeing Miranda Warnings for all Offenses
Today marks the 34th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Berkemer v. McCarty[1]. The Berkemer[2] guaranteed the protections afforded by “Miranda Warnings” for all offenses, from the most serious felonies, to the most minor traffic offenses. The Case The case behind Berkemer …
Anniversary of Wolf v. Colorado: The Supreme Court Rejects Incorporation of the Exclusionary Rule
Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the devastating Supreme Court case of Wolf v. Colorado[1]. In Wolf[2], the Supreme Court chose to not extend the holding of Weeks v. United States[3] to the states, effectively allowing states to use illegally obtained evidence in court without repercussion, a …
Anniversary of Adamson v. California: Rejecting the Fifth Amendment Again
Today marks the 71st anniversary of the devastating Supreme Court case of Adamson v. California[1]. Adamson[2] upheld the Supreme Court’s previous ruling in Twining[3] which denied the 5th amendment protections against self-incrimination in state trials. The Case[4] The case behind Adamson is …
Anniversary of Mapp v. Ohio: Establishment of the Exclusionary Rule for States
Today marks the 57th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Mapp v. Ohio[1]. Mapp established the fundamental principle that evidence that is obtained in violation of the 4th amendment may not be used in State court cases. This ruling extended the previous holding of Weeks v. United …
Anniversary of Miranda v. Arizona: The birth of the Miranda Warning
Today marks the 52nd anniversary of one of the most important landmark Supreme Court decisions in American criminal law, namely the decision of Miranda v. Arizona[1]. Miranda[2] stands as one of the landmark cases in the American criminal justice system. The warning outlined from this case has …
Anniversary of New York v. Quarles: Public Safety trumps Miranda
Today marks the 34th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of New York v Quarles[1] in which the Supreme Court established the second exception to the holding in Miranda[2]. The public safety exception to the “Miranda Warning” requirement exist when there is an ongoing threat to public …
Anniversary of Betts v. Brady: Denying the 6th amendment
Today marks the 76th anniversary of the disastrous Supreme Court Decision of Betts v. Brady[1]. In Betts[2], the Supreme Court rejected expanding the 6th amendment right to counsel to state courts. This case effectively denied the majority of indigent defendant’s legal representation until the case …
Anniversary of Johnson v. Zerbst: Extending the 6th amendment
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Johnson v. Zerbst[1]. Johnson[2] marked the first time the Supreme Court found that indigent defendants were constitutionally required to have counsel provided to them in federal court for non-capital crimes. The Case[3] The …
Anniversary of Hester v. United States: Open fields Doctrine
Today marks the 94th anniversary of the landmark decision of Hester v United States[1] which established the “Open Fields Doctrine” which stands as a limit on the protections of the 4th amendment. While the doctrine would later be refined in the landmarks cases of Katz v. United States[2] and later …
Anniversary of Griffin v. Illinois: Appeals Cannot be Denied due to Poverty
Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Griffin v. Illinois[1]. Griffin[2] stands for the simple proposition that poverty cannot be a bar to defendant appealing their convictions. Prior to Griffin, states would commonly make defendants pay for trial transcripts …
Anniversary of United States v. Kirby: Reasonable Construction of Statutes
Today marks the 150th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of United States v. Kirby[1]. The Kirby[2] case stands for the simple proposition that statutes must be construed in a reasonable way to prevent absurd contradictions. The Case The case behind Kirby highlights why a decision …
Anniversary of Carroll v. United States: Birth of the Automobile Exception
Today marks the 93rd anniversary of the landmark decision in Carroll v. United States where the Supreme Court created what came to be known as the Automobile Exception to the warrant requirement of the 4th amendment. This decision created one of the most common exceptions to the warrant requirement, …
