knowing more than sarah palin: not so hard, actually

[kaydeefalls]

The Rules: Post info about ONE Supreme Court decision, modern or historic to your lj. (Any decision, as long as it's not Roe v. Wade.) For those who see this on your f-list, take the meme to your OWN lj to spread the fun.

How about the classic Brown v. Board of Education, which desegregated schools? I mean, that's a fairly obvious one. And, by extension, Plessy v. Ferguson, which Brown overturned (ye olde "separate but equal" argument of great bullshittasticness). Going back a little further in African-American history, we have the Dred Scott case (Dred Scott v. Sandford, which I did have to look up because I don't think the "v. Sandford" part was ever mentioned in my history classes), which was another royally crap decision by a royally racist Supreme Court. Um, I'm not sure what it says about me that these are the three cases that come to my mind first.

But seriously, Palin, how could you not name a single case other than Roe? COME ON.

Comments

[secondsilk.livejournal.com]

Okay, Brown v Board of Education I do know.
I was a bit stumped for a moment, until I thought: Australian High Court cases, and I could tell you about Mabo. Also Wik. And I've looked up cases on wikipedia, so there is the Tasmanian Dams case, that I also have an opinion on. The Haneef case was heard by a full sitting of the Federal Court, one rung below the High Court. Okay, I feel better about my knowledge of the judiciary in my country.

There are some good cases in recent US Supreme Court action. Twenty minutes with wikipedia throws up: Guantanamo Bay detainees cannot be tried by military commission (Hamdan v. Rumsfeld), that "police cannot conduct a warrantless search in a home where one occupant consents and the other objects", and "evidence obtained with a search warrant is admissible even when police violate 'knock-and-announce' rule". The Supreme Court also got to decide whether wetlands are considered navigable water under the Clean Water Act.

And there's a boundary dispute between New Jersey and Delaware that hasn't been reported yet. Also a case on relative sentences for powder and crack cocaine.

Sorry, I'm still reading wikipedia. There's the compulsory teaching of creationism alongside evolution in schools. And using federal money to encourage changes in state laws. There is some really interesting stuff there. And okay, I knew none of it before, but I'm Australian and not an elected official of any kind. Surely as governor of Alaska Palin must have followed at least the cases that affect the relationship between the states and the federal government?

[trivetmonger.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've got one: How about a little case called "Bush v. Gore" from way back in 2000? This was the landmark decision that completely ruined the delicate system of checks and balances that regulate the balance of power in our economy. As an added bonus, you get the supreme court involved in electoral decisions, thus not only superseding the legislative and executive branches, but also the electoral college! Woo!