-
Gideon v. Wainwright
In this case, Clarence Earl Gideon was charged with a felony in the state of Florida. The severity of his crime excluded him from receiving court provided counsel in that state. He appeal to the Supreme Court and in a 9-0 majority, the Court ruled in favor of Gideon that the Constitution grants all citizens the right to counsel in any case. -
Fay v. Noia
In this case, Fay was imprisoned for murder with the only evidence being his confession to the crime. He was then released because his imprisonment was in violation of the fourteenth amendment because his confession was coerced. He then appealed his case to the Supreme Court and the Court found in a 6-3 decision that all citizens were granted the implied right to habeas corpus. -
Miranda v. Arizona
This case is four cases that were pulled together to form the cohesive final version of a suspect's fifth amendment rights. Ernesto Miranda was arrested for two crimes and was then interrogated for two hours until the police obtained a written confession. Miranda was never informed of his fifth amendment rights and therefore the court found that his confession was inadmissible as evidence and his conviction was overturned. It was then required that the Miranda warning be read to every suspect. -
Parker v. Gladden
In this case, Parker was on trial for murder when a bailiff mentioned to an alternate juror that he thought Parker was guilty. Two jurors in the case overheard this remark and after parker was convicted, he appeal to the Supreme Court that his right to an impartial jury was violated. The Court ruled in favor of Parker that his sixth and fourteenth amendments rights had been violated. -
Benton v. Maryland
Benton was essentially convicted twice for the same crimes, larceny and burglary. He appeal to the Supreme Court that his right to be free from double jeopardy convictions had been violated. In a 7-2 decisions, the Court ruled in Benton's favor and extended the double jeopardy protection clause of the Fifth Amendment to state courts. -
Massachusetts v. Sheppard
Police officers went to search Sheppard's home late at night with a warrant to search his home, however the warrant the officers had obtained from a judge did not list the items to be found in Sheppard's home, although the affidavit did. Sheppard appeal his conviction to the Supreme Court claiming that there should not be an exception to the Constitution for officers who believed they were acting in "good faith." The Court ruled 7-2 against Sheppard creating the "good faith" exception. -
Texas v. Cobb
In this case, Cobb was charged with burglary and was appointed counsel. He then however, confessed to a murder in conjunction with the burglary without a counsel appointed for his and was charged and convicted for both crimes. He appeal to the court arguing that his right to counsel should have been extended to both cases after his confession. The Court, however, ruled 5-4 in favor of Texas because the Sixth Amendment right is offense specific and does not extend to only factually related cases. -
Smith v. Massachusetts
Smith was found not guilty because of insufficient on the part of the government. Later, however, new evidence was brought, and the Judge overturned the previous conviction of not guilty. Smith appealed to the Supreme Court, and the Court found 5-4 that the Double Jeopardy clause protected Smith from being retried for the same crime he had already been acquitted of.