Civil Law: Detailed Analysis of Key Supreme Court Decisions

This report provides an in-depth analysis of several landmark civil law cases decided by the United States Supreme Court. The cases span a wide range of topics, including the commerce clause (United States v. Lopez), the Second Amendment (District of Columbia v. Heller), racial segregation (Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education), civil rights (Civil Rights Cases, Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co.), and various constitutional issues related to individual rights and liberties. Each case is summarized, and the court's decisions are examined in detail, highlighting the legal principles involved and the impact of these rulings on American society and the legal system. The report also touches upon cases related to immigration law, same-sex relationships, and affirmative action, providing a comprehensive overview of significant legal precedents. The cases are presented chronologically, starting from 1857 and going up to 2003, and they cover a broad spectrum of legal issues.

Running head: CIVIL LAW 1
Civil Law
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United States v. Lopez (1995)
This was a landmark case of the United States Supreme Court pertaining to commerce
clause. This case with its origin from San Antonio high school in relation to Gun Free Zones Act
of 1990 challenged the law making power of Congress in relation to interstate commerce and
possession of handguns. The Supreme Court affirmed that the law making authority of Congress
was limited and it did not extend to carrying of handguns and other specified parts of commerce
(Lopez, Shleifer & Vishny, 1995).
Printz v. United States (1997)
This was a landmark United States Supreme Court case where the plaintiff Jay and
Richard represented by Stephen and David challenged specific provisions in the Brandy
Handgun Violence Prevention Act an amendment of Gun Control Act of 1968 claiming they
were against the Tenth Amendment of US Constitution. The court held that there were parts of
the Brandy Act that violated the tenth amendment of the US (Caminker, 1997).
Arizona v. United States (2012)
This was a US Supreme Court case by United States justice department and united states
district court of Arizona challenging Arizona Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe
Neighborhood Act (Arizona SB. 1070) which increased law enforcement powers in enforcing
immigration laws for racial profiling and civil right violation. The court ended the contrast
between federal law and state law by deciding to review Arizona S.B. 1070.

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District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)
This was a landmark Supreme Court case by six plaintiffs challenging the terms in
Firearms Control Regulation Act of 1975 which prohibited inhabitants from possessing
handguns. The Supreme Court held that the second amendment allowed an individual to possess
firearm and to use the arm for stated purposes. It also threw away several regulations and
requirements in the Firearms Control Regulation Act.
Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896
This was a critical case of the Supreme Court by Homer Plessy of New Orleans who
breached the Louisiana’s Separate Car Act of 1980 on “separate but equal “claiming that it was
unconstitutional and in violation of the Fourteenth amendment of the united states constitution.
This case was overturned by the Supreme Court in May 1896 (Ferguson, 1896)
Lawrence v. Texas, (2003)
This was a major case in the United States Supreme Court by John Geddes and his
partner Tyron Garner assisted by Lamba Legal that challenged the existence of Texas anti
sodomy law as unconstitutional based on charges for being caught while engaging in sexual
intercourse. The Supreme court did away with the anti sodomy law based on “right to privacy”
and sexual privacy amongst adults.

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Bowers v. Hardwick, (1986)
This was an important case in the Supreme Court where Michael Hardwick represented
by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Harvard Professor Tribe and assistant attorney
general challenged Georgia anti sodomy laws constitutionality in prohibiting oral and anal sex
amongst individuals. The court overturned their claim upholding Georgia’s sodomy law.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
This was a landmark case in the United States Supreme Court by Dred Scott who sued
the United States court and federal court in the supreme court for declaring him a slave yet he
had been to free US territory according to Missouri Compromise of 1820. The court overturned
his claim since the united states constitution privileges did not apply equally to the Americans
and the black people whether they were free or not.
Civil Rights Cases, (1883)
This were cases by five black Americans that challenged Congress power in the
interpretation of Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendment of the US constitution in relation to
access and use of public facilities and “white only facilities”. The court held that Congress was
not empowered by these amendments to outlaw racial discrimination (Hall, Wiecek &
Finkelman, 1996)

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New Negro Alliance v. Sanitary Grocery Co., (1938)
This was a major case in the United States Supreme Court where Sanitary Grocery Co.
challenged the ability of New Negro Alliance (NNA) to boycott against it according to the
United States labor law. The Supreme Court overturned this claim against right to boycott by
Sanitary Grocer Company allowing peaceful demonstrations.
Morgan v. Virginia, (1946)
This was a case in the Supreme Court by William Hastie and Thurgood Marshall that
challenged Virginia’s state laws on supporting segregation in interstate buses which Irene
Morgan had been a victim of. The Supreme Court upheld the claim declaring Virginia’s state
laws on enforcing segregation among interstate buses as unconstitutional.
Shelley v. Kraemer, (1948)
This was a hallmark case in the supreme court by Shelley family represented by Gorge
Vaungt challenging the restrictions on property ownership by “restrictive covenants “based on
the Fourth Amendments. The court did away with the laws based on the equality stipulated in the
Fourth Amendment.
Henderson v. United States, (1950)
This was a case in the Supreme Court by Henderson who filed a petition in line with
Interstate Commerce Act against the treatment he had received in a train while travelling from

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Washington to Atlanta. After being dismissed by Interstate Commerce Commission, the court
ruled that the rail transport had failed in provision of equal services to blacks and whites.
Hernandez v. Texas, (1954)
This was a landmark case in the United States Supreme Court by Gustavo Garcia
appealing the conviction of Mexican American, Pete Hernandez as per the Fourth Amendment
which required presence of a person of Mexican origin in the jury. The court upheld his claim
based on this amendment since the amendment applied to everyone regardless of color or
residence.
Bolling v. Sharpe, (1954)
This was a landmark case in the United States Supreme Court by Professor Nabrit on
behalf of Bolling and other student in the district of Columbia challenging the presence of
segregated public school in the district of Columbia by Consolidated Parents Group and the
school. The court upheld the case by the professor dismissing segregated schools in the district of
Columbia (Black, 1959)
Garner v. Louisiana, (1961)
This was a landmark case in the United States Supreme Court by Thurgood Marshal
challenging the conviction of African American students who declined to depart dining place
accused of violating the national peace laws. The court established that the student’s behavior
did not disturb any peace hence upholding Thurgood’s case.

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Loving v. Virginia, (1967)
This was a major case in United States Supreme Court by Mildred Loving ad Richard
Loving against Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924 that banned interracial marriages that
earned them a one-year sentence. The court struck down all the laws against interracial marriages
for going against the fourth amendment of united states constitution.
Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co., (1968)
This was another critical case in United States Supreme Court by Jones challenging
Alfred H Mayer Company decision not to sell land to him because he was black. The court held
that Congress had the power to regulate sales of property in order to prevent racial discrimination
in the enforcing of thirteenth amendment (Ervin, 1968).
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenbury Board of Education, (1971)
This was a case in the US Supreme Court concerning transportation of students to school
in order to enhance combination of ‘diverse’ students in public schools while promoting equal
educational opportunities. The court upheld this case by Swan (Marsh, 1990)
Gates v. Collier, (1974)
This was a landmark case in the US Supreme Court by four inmates represented by Roy
Haber accusing the prison for violating their civil rights through the punishments administered to
the inmates. The court ordered the prison to stop the unconstitutional activities on the inmates.

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Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, (1978)
This was a case by Bakle against university of California Davis affirmative action
program for declining to admit him based on his age. The court ordered the admission of Blake
as an enforcement of Fourteenth Amendment of the United States.
Batson V. Kentucky, (1986)
This was a case by James Batson who was convicted on the basis of burglary and stolen
goods, who challenged the constitutional provisions of his jurors during his case as not being
cross sectional since they were all white thereby violating the fourth amendment. The court
upheld his case.
Grutter v. Bolliner, (2003)
This was a landmark case in the Supreme Court by Barbara Gutter who challenged
University of Michigan Law School’s admission process as to be favoring a certain minority
group after her admission was denied. The court held that an admission process which favored a
minority group was not unconstitutional so long as other dynamics were taken care of (Devins,
2003).

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Reference
Black Jr, C. L. (1959). The lawfulness of the segregation decisions. Yale lj, 69, 421.
Caminker, E. H. (1997). Printz, State Sovereignty, and the Limits of Formalism. The Supreme
Court Review, 1997, 199-248.
Devins, N. (2003). Explaining Grutter v. Bollinger. U. Pa. L. Rev., 152, 347.
Ervin Jr, S. J. (1968). Jones v. Alfred H. Mayer Co.: Judicial Activism Run Riot. Vand. L.
Rev., 22, 485.
Ferguson, P. V. (1896). 163 US 537 (1896). Jurisdiction: United States of America, Supreme
Court Date of Decision, 18.
Hall, K. L., Wiecek, W. M., & Finkelman, P. (1996). American legal history: cases and
materials (p. 70). New York: Oxford University Press.
Lopez-de-Silane, F., Shleifer, A., & Vishny, R. W. (1995). Privatization in the united states (No.
w5113). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Marsh, F. K. (1990). The Case for Imposing a Legal Duty on Educators in Educational
Malpractice Actions: Improving Minority Education. T. Marshall L. Rev., 16, 295.