The Warren Court (1952-1969)

WordsplashCreate one sentence per term using some clue words from below.

DUE PROCESSLaw legal

principlesNo citizen may be deniedRights fairlyrules

PRECEDENTLegal decision guidePattern exampleBased on previousEqual rights judicial

decision

Due process • 14th Amendment—no state

could deprive an individual of due process

• Law may not treat individuals unfairly

• Courts must follow rules and procedures when trying cases

precedent• a judicial decision that

serves as an authority for deciding a later case

• an example or instance used to justify later similar occurrences

Earl Warren• Former governor of California• 1952appointed by President

“Ike” to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1952-1969)

• What is the Supreme Court?• What does it do?

Directions: Warren Court cases

• Read each court case and background• Examine each precedent for the case.• Read the arguments• Decide as a group what argument to support

and why.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

• Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of Mapp• “all evidence obtained by searches and

seizures in violation of the Constitution…is inadmissable”

Gideon v. Wainright (1963)

• Courts ruled in favor of Gideon• State courts under 6th Amendment must

provide counsel to those who can’t afford to find one.

Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)

• Court ruled in favor of Escobedo• States must provide counsel during police

interrogations under the 6th Amendment

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

• Supreme court ruled in favor of Miranda• Prosecutors were not allowed to statements

obtained from suspects who were not given their constitutional rights to remain silent and have an attorney

• 4th Amendment—guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause

• 5th Amendment--nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;

• 6th Amendment—speedy and public trial; informed of charge against him; have counsel; confront witnesses

The Warren Court• Thought to be a conservative, BUT was more

liberal than Eisenhower wanted– Rulings focused on civil rights, separation of

church and state, and police arrest procedure in the United States.

• Warren Court focuses on citizens’ rights in application to the 14th Amendment which deals with…

Makes sure all citizens are treated the same by the courts

DUE PROCESS

Mystery Q: The Supreme Court

• What is the Supreme Court?• Name two duties of the Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court

• Highest judicial court in the U.S.• 1 Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices• settling disputes and interpreting the

meaning of laws• Settle disputes between states• Hear appeals from state and federal courts.• Determine the constitutionality of federal

laws.

Changes by the Warren Court• Summary of Earl Warren’s background• The Warren Court focused on four distinct areas of

controversy:– Reapportionment of Congressional Districts– Rights of the Accused– Separation of Church and State– Social Changes

• Read and describe the changes enacted by the Warren Court on the three areas

• Summary: Some Americans called for the impeachment of Earl Warren. Why do you think some Americans reacted negatively to some of the decisions made by the Warren Court?

Education

• “Separate but equal” was unconstitutional. • Led to the desegregation of public schools

Social Issues

• 1957 Roth vs. United Statesruled that obscene materials were “utterly without social importance”

• 1965 Court struck down a Connecticut law that prohibited the use of birth control

Reapportionment

• The way in which states draw up political districts based on population changes

• Required that states reapportion their electoral districts to represent the shift from rural to urban living

• “one man, one vote”

Rights of the Accused

• State courts could not use evidence obtained illegally

• Defendant in state court had the right to a lawyer

• Suspect must have access to a lawyer and be informed of rights to remain silent

• Authorities had to give suspects a four-part warningMiranda rights

Separation of Church and State

• States could not require prayers to be said in state public schools

• State-mandated Bible readings in public schools were not allowed

• Summary: Some Americans called for the impeachment of Earl Warren. Why do you think some Americans reacted negatively to some of the decisions made by the Warren Court?