Court Cases

U.S. Supreme Court

Joan and Irwin Jacobs Supreme Court Docket

All Cases

15 Supreme Court Cases during the 2008 Term

U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2010

Smart Justice

Criminal Law Reform

Safford Unified School District v. Redding

Whether school officials acted unconstitutionally by strip searching a 13-year-old girl based on the uncorroborated accusation of a fellow student and, if so, whether the strip search was so clearly unconstitutional that plaintiff is entitled to damages.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Safford Unified School District v. Redding
U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2010

Smart Justice

Criminal Law Reform

Safford Unified School District v. Redding

Whether school officials acted unconstitutionally by strip searching a 13-year-old girl based on the uncorroborated accusation of a fellow student and, if so, whether the strip search was so clearly unconstitutional that plaintiff is entitled to damages.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
Safford Unified School District v. Redding
Ricci v. DeStefano
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2009

Smart Justice

+2 Issues

Ricci v. DeStefano

Whether a public employer may lawfully refuse to certify the results of a promotional exam when it has a strong basis in evidence to believe that the test violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act because of its discriminatory impact on minorities or women. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Ricci v. DeStefano
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2009
Ricci v. DeStefano

Smart Justice

+2 Issues

Ricci v. DeStefano

Whether a public employer may lawfully refuse to certify the results of a promotional exam when it has a strong basis in evidence to believe that the test violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act because of its discriminatory impact on minorities or women. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
Ricci v. DeStefano
Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Mukasey
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2009

Voting Rights

Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Mukasey

Whether Congress properly exercised its authority under the Fourteenth Amendment when, in 2006, it extended the pre-clearance requirements of the Voting Rights Act 25 years based on an extensive record of ongoing discrimination against minorities in voting. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Mukasey
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2009
Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Mukasey

Voting Rights

Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Mukasey

Whether Congress properly exercised its authority under the Fourteenth Amendment when, in 2006, it extended the pre-clearance requirements of the Voting Rights Act 25 years based on an extensive record of ongoing discrimination against minorities in voting. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Mukasey
FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.
U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2009

Free Speech

FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.

Whether the FCC improperly reversed its position without adequate justification by recently holding that "fleeting expletives" represent "indecent" speech that can be banned from the airwaves. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.
U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2009
FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.

Free Speech

FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.

Whether the FCC improperly reversed its position without adequate justification by recently holding that "fleeting expletives" represent "indecent" speech that can be banned from the airwaves. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.
License plates
U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2009

National Security

+3 Issues

Arizona v. Gant

Whether the police may search a car without a warrant after someone who has been arrested for driving with a suspended license is already handcuffed and sitting in the back of a police cruiser. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Arizona v. Gant
U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2009
License plates

National Security

+3 Issues

Arizona v. Gant

Whether the police may search a car without a warrant after someone who has been arrested for driving with a suspended license is already handcuffed and sitting in the back of a police cruiser. DECIDED
Status: Closed (Judgment)
Arizona v. Gant
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How Do Terms Work?

Between October and late June or early July the Supreme Court is “in session,” meaning it hears oral arguments, issues written decisions, and decides whether to take additional cases.

Submitting petitions

Our legal team at the ACLU files a cert petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, a type of petition that usually argues that a lower court has incorrectly decided an important question of law that violates civil rights and should be fixed to prevent similar confusion in similar cases.

term starts

U.S. Supreme Court decides to take a case

On average, the Court considers about 7,000 ‐ 8,000 petitions each term and accepts about 80 for oral argument.

Oral arguments

This is the period where the U.S. Supreme Court listens to our case in court.

U.S. Supreme Court makes final decisions

While the U.S. Supreme Court makes decisions throughout the term, many are released right before the term ends. If a decision doesn't go in our favor, we fight back!