Famous Supreme Court Cases
Santa Fe Independent School District vs. Jane Doe
A school district in texas allowed a student elected chaplain to lead a prayer over the public address system before all home football games. Several parents anonymously sued the school district for violating their children, and their first amendment right to freedom of speech. The Supreme court ruled in favor of the parents, saying the prayers were a school sponsored activity, and thus unconstitutional. This means that a group of student athletes could pray as long as the coaches and school officials are not involved.
Vernonia School District vs. Acton
Twelve year old, seventh grader, James Acton wanted to try out for the football team, but was required to take a drug test at the beginning of the season and at random during the season. His parents refused to allow this because they claimed that he was drug and alcohol free and that there was no reason that their son should be tested. The Supreme court ruled in favor of the school district, saying that it was for the safety of all the students and that it was a voluntary group, so the testing was legal.
Kent vs. United States
Morris Kent who was 16 years old had been on probation since the age of 14 for burglary and theft, and was arrested and charged with three counts of home burglaries, three robberies, and two counts of rape. Because of the seriousness of the charges, the prosecutor wanted Kent to be tried as an adult. The case was in fact moved into adult court and Kent was found guilty and sentenced to 30 to 90 years in prison. Kents lawyer appealed saying he should have been tried in juvenile court. The Supreme court ruled against Morris and said that a minor can be tried and punished as an adult. However, the decision to move the individual to adult court must be made with weight on seriousness of the crime, age, mental state, and criminal background of he defendant.
Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent School District
In the year 1965 John and Mary Beth Tinker and some of their friends wore black arm bands in protest of the Vietnam war. School officials told them to remove the armbands and when they refused, they were suspended. With their parents help, they sued the school district saying their children's first amendment right to freedom of speech. The Supreme court ruled in favor of the students saying that the rights of students aren't thrown out the window when they enter school. However, if the bands would have caused a distraction for other students that would have disrupted their school work then they could be confiscated, or forced to take them off.
DeShaney vs. Winnebago County Social Services
Four year old Joshua DeShaney lived with his dad, who physically abused him. Eventually, social services took custody of Joshua but returned him to his father three days later. Later, he was hospitalized with extensive bruises and severe brain damage. He survived, but was permanently paralyzed and mentally disabled. His father was sent to prison for child abuse and his mother sued social services for returning Joshua to his father. The Supreme court ruled against Joshua and his mother, saying that the Constitution does not protect children from their parents.
