Court Cases

1: FCC v. Fox Television Stations, 2011
Fox is challenging the FCC's rules about vulgar language on television. Fox is saying the rules are a violation of the first and fifth amendments. This interested me because I do not believe the FCC should regulate the language used on television or radio. It is the viewer/listener's choice to watch the show or listen to that station.

2: Clark v. Arizona, 2005
Eric Clark killed a police officer during a traffic stop. A expert doctor said Clark was a paranoid schizophrenic fearing the world was being taken over by aliens. Clark wanted to use this expert's ruling for evidence, but the trial judge stated that Arizona law does not allow that to be the only evidence of insanity. If Clark was ruled insane, he would not form the necessary criminal intent. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Arizona. I think this is interesting because it was a case about punishment for a crime. Due process was a key issue.

3: Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, 2001
Gregory Wersal was running for a spot on the Minnesota Supreme Court. There was a state law saying candidates running for a Judaical position cannot state their opinions about cases that are unsolved at the time. Wersal filed a claim saying he had to deny questions in public, making himself seem incompetent. I was interested by the name of the case. In a 5-4 decision the Republican Party of Minnesota won this case. The Supreme Court said the state law was unconstitutional because it violated the First Amendment.