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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing an Analytical Essay From a Supreme Court Case

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Critical thinkers read a summary of a United States Supreme Court case, including important background information and the court's final decision. They form an opinion in agreement or disagreement regarding the case and then write an...
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Slaughter House Cases 1873

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Review background information about the Slaughter-House Cases then read the complete text of the majority opinion of the court and also the dissenting votes.
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Handout
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: In Re Gault (1967)

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents the syllabus of the landmark Supreme Court case of In re Gault which decided that juveniles tried for crimes in delinquency proceedings should have the right of due process protected by the Fourteenth Amendment.
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

The Oyez Project: Bigelow v. Virginia (1975)

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief overview of the Bigelow v. Virginia (1975) Supreme Court case.
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Activity
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez.org: Wesberry v. Sanders

For Students 9th - 10th
OYEZ.org offers excellent multimedia information on the Supreme Court case, Wesberry v. Sanders, including an abstract, an interactive section on participants, resources, audio, and more.
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Primary
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Agostini v. Felton (1997)

For Students 9th - 10th
Offers the full text of the Supreme Court landmark decision on Agostini v. Felton. This case dealt with the issue of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
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Primary
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Gore v. Bush (2000)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a collection of facts on the landmark Supreme Court case of Gore v. Bush which stated that the Florida Supreme Court's method for recounting ballots was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Lassiter v. Northhampton Election Bd (1959)

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the Supreme Court case that found the literacy test unconstitutional in 1959.
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Primary
Other

Find Law: Cases and Codes: Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the Supreme Court decision in the Miranda v. Arizona case.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Escobedo v. Illinois (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
This provides the full text of the oral argument and also links to cases citing the Gideon case in the Supreme Court and Circuit court levels.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Marbury v. Madison (1803)

For Students 9th - 10th
Supreme Court decision on Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803).
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Bradwell v. Illinois (1872)

For Students 9th - 10th
Supreme Court case involving Myra Bradwell who was denied a license to practice law because she was a married woman. The full text of the decision is included here.
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: u.s. V. e.c. Knight and Co. 1895

For Students 9th - 10th
View the complete text of the 1895 Supreme Court case of the United States v. E.C. Knight and Co. which concerned the Sherman Antitrust Act.
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Primary
Boston College

Boston College: Schenck v. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the decision of this landmark Supreme Court decision involving the 1917 Espionage Act Schenck v. United States (1919).
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Primary
Boston College

Boston College: Bigelow v. Virginia

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete syllabus and decision on the Supreme Court case Bigelow v. Virginia (1975).
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Primary
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Schenck v. United States (1919)

For Students 9th - 10th
Features a syllabus of the landmark Supreme Court case of Schenck v. United States which decided that the defendant's right to criticize the draft was not protected by the First Amendment.
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Primary
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a syllabus for the landmark Supreme Court case of Gideon v. Wainwright which held that state courts are required to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants unable to afford their own attorneys or lawyers.
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Website
Illinois Institute of Technology

Oyez Project: u.s. Supreme Court Cases: Employment Division v. Smith

For Students 9th - 10th
A case of whether states can deny employment to people who have been found to use illegal drugs for religious purposes.
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Activity
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: United States v. Lopez (1995)

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents the complete syllabus for the landmark Supreme Court case of United States v. Lopez. This case dealt with limits to Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.
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Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS offers a synopsis of the landmark Supreme Court cases of Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger which "affirmed and refined its position on affirmative action".
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Activity
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Landmark Cases: United States v. Lopez (1995)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS features details on the landmark Supreme Court case of United States v. Lopez which set limits to Congress's power under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.
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Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Landmark Cases: Casey v. Planned Parenthood (1992)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS gives a summary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Casey v. Planned Parenthood which upheld the constitutional right to have an abortion in most cases. Requirements for parental consent, informed consent, and 24-hour waiting...
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Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Landmark Cases: Barron v. Baltimore (1833)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS features a summary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Barron v. Baltimore which stated that the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights did not restrict the state governments. Decision written by Chief Justice John Marshall.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1955)

For Students 9th - 10th
Transcript of the Supreme Court's opinion in the 1955 Brown II case decision, which placed increased emphasis on implementing the 1954 Brown decision to desegregate public schools, thus overturning the 1896 decision in Plessy vs....