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14.2: Court Doctrine

  • Page ID
    82008
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    Important to this discussion is the requisite but brief appraisal of the Warren Courts, aptly named for the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1953-1969). Chief Justice Earl Warren was clearly active with both social and criminal justice reform. The Warren courts afforded individual protections in landmark decisions impacting social and criminal justice. These include: right to an attorney during an interrogation (Miranda v. Arizona), (Mapp v. Ohio) securely linking all law enforcement efforts to the first Ten Amendments through a strong interpretation of the 14th Amendment, right to counsel during all court proceedings (Gideon v. Wainwright), and voting rights, civil rights, women rights to name a few. These decisions by the courts are often assessed in view of the constant flux of America’s social and public policy landscape. The Warren Court and subsequent courts relied heavily on strong interpretations of the 14th Amendment to protect civil liberties against government over reach.

    This amendment is conspicuous in numerous deliberations of Supreme Court Justices providing a foundation for their decisions. The amendment rationale is evident in cases such as but not limited to Mapp v. Ohio (1961) guard against illegal searches, Katzenbach v. Morgan (1966) Congress preempting states voting laws, Roe v. Wade (1973) regarding abortion, Bush v. Gore (2000) deciding the 2000 Presidential Election, Lawrence v. Texas (2003) dealing with privacy between consenting adults, and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) regarding same-sex marriage.

    These cases are examples of the previously stated clauses within the 14th Amendment that are: Citizenship Clause, Privileges or Immunities Clause, Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause. These clauses are used to argue against government abridging individual liberties. Although the 14th Amendment is clearly designed to safeguard individuals from states over reach, the Court has decided cases regarding discrimination by an individual toward another individual. In other words it provides protection against discrimination by private and government entities. Since the tumultuous 60’s social revolt witnessed in the United States the courts have remained somewhat consistent reviewing legislation and practice based on bias and discriminatory impacts.

    Concurrent with Chief Justice Earl Warren’s tenure was the enactment of substantial social justice reform legislation such as 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1968 Voting Rights, and an array of women rights. The pieces of legislation listed may be viewed as in direct conflict with Jim Crow Legislation and other equal protection abridgement endorsed during the span from 1868 to 1960 in-spite of the 14th Amendment existence. A prominent factor for consideration that is incorporated further on in this discussion of a Supreme Court Justice ideology and the weight of public opinion.


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