what you need to do for a good case brief: (you need two total) 1. Name of Case (year) 2. Basic Facts of Case: 3. What amendments were in play? What "freedom" was at question? What question did the court decide? (any or all of these questions) 4. How did the court rule? 5. What are the implications of this ruling? How has the ruling shaped the rights of Americans?
5th and 6th Amendment: Rights of the accused Gideon vs. Wainwright (court will decide that 6th amendment means defendants are entitled to a free defense if certain qualifications are met. Miranda vs. Arizona (court will decide that the police must inform you of certain elements of your 5th and 6th amendment rights prior to questioning (to silence, have an attorney present, have an attorney provided in some instances.) Roper vs. Simmons (court will decide that it is unconstitutional for the government to impose the death penalty if the crime was committed when the defendant was under 18.)
Civil Rights/Equal Protection of the law Plessy vs. Ferguson: court held that "separate but equal" facilities does not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. Brown vs Board of Education of Topeka KS.: court held that "separate but equal" facilities DOES violate the 14th amendment. (overturns Plessy, example of judicial review)
Right to Privacy: search and seizure law (4th amendment) here is a link to a site with lots of prominent 4th amendment cases. Mapp vs. Ohio: A woman's house was illegally searched and the exclusionary rule (evidence illegally seized cannot be admissible in court) will apply to the states (it had previously just applied to the federal government) Right to privacy: women's rights Griswold v. Connecticut: basically legalized birth control (Connecticut had a state law against it, like most states at the time.) Roe vs. Wade: basically legalized abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.