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Supreme Court Roundup 2018-2019

With cases involving everything from Native American tribal rights to the rights of death row inmates to endangered frogs to racial gerrymandering and more, this year has been a fascinating and productive one for the U.S. Supreme Court. In this eLesson we invite your students to assess the court’s current term after eight months. They will be challenged to assess the decisions made by the court thus far and make predictions for cases yet to be decided. Directions: Choose three Supreme Court cases listed below. For each case you select, research and report the following information: Finished Case Questions:

  • What was the question argued in the case?
  • What was the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the case?
  • Which Supreme Court justice wrote the majority or unanimous opinion? Which justice wrote the dissenting opinion, if any? Which justice wrote the concurring opinion, if any?
  • Do you agree with the court’s decision? Explain your answer.
  • Do you believe the Supreme Court has fulfilled its constitutional duty in upholding this year’s decisions? Why or why not?

Upcoming Case Questions:

  • What is the question argued in the case?
  • How do you expect the Court to rule? Why?
  • What precedents might they draw upon?
  • How would you rule if you were on the Supreme Court? Why?

 

Finished Cases October 2018-June 2019

Herrera v. Wyoming

  Sturgeon v. Frost

Weyerhaeuser Company v. United States Fish and Wildlife Company

Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. v. Jackson

Madison v. Alabama

Virginia House of Delegates v. Bethune-Hill

 

Upcoming Cases

Country of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund

  1. Which part of the Constitution is involved in this case?
  1. How might this ruling affect who has the responsibility to monitor the treatment of natural resources, such as water sources?
  2. How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? What is your constitutional reasoning?

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association Inc. V. City of New York

  1. Which part of the Constitution is involved in this case?
  2. How might this ruling affect our Second Amendment rights?
  3. How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? What is your constitutional reasoning?

Mitchell v. Wisconsin

  1. Which part of the Constitution is involved in this case?
  2. How might this ruling affect our understanding of Fourth Amendment rights?
  3. How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? What is your constitutional reasoning?

Iancu v. Brunetti

  1. Which part of the Constitution is involved in this case?
  2. How might this ruling affect free speech regarding “scandalous” and “immoral” language?
  3. How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? What is your constitutional reasoning?

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission v. American Humanist Association

  1. Which part of the Constitution is involved in this case?
  2. How might this ruling affect the government endorsing a specific religion?
  3. How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? What is your constitutional reasoning?

Concluding Question: Based upon how the Supreme Court has decided on cases prior to October 6th, 2019, how do you think the court will rule on the remaining cases?  Why do you think the Supreme Court has made the decisions it already has up to this point?