GC Supreme Court Decision Worksheet
Description
Here’s a link to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM v. WILSON :
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-804_j426.pdf
Read the opinion and then answer the questions below.
1) a)Which Supreme Court justice wrote the opinion of the Court? Who joined him/her?
b) The case is subtitled CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT.What is the meaning of “certiorari”?
c)Which states make up the Fifth Circuit?
2) a)What sort of behavior on the part of Mr. Wilson did the other members of the board consider ““not consistent with the best interests of the College” and “not only inappropriate, but reprehensible.”
b)What punishment was recommended by the majority of the board in response to Mr. Wilson’s actions?
3) a)According to Mr. Wilson, which constitutional amendment was infringed upon?
b)What remedy did he seek
c)How did the case get to federal court?
d) Why did the district court dismiss the case?
4) a) On page 4 of the decision, the Supreme Court spelled out the question they had to answer. What was that question?
b)On page 4 the court cites Near v. Minnesota ex rel. Olson, 283 U. S. 697, 718–720 (1931). Why?
5) On page 5 the court writes this: When faced with a dispute about the Constitution’s meaning or application, “[l]ong settled and established practice is a consideration of great weight.” Why was that not good news for mr Wilson?
6) a)What is the meaning of “censure”?
b)What were the circumstances for the first censure by the U.S. Senate, and when did that occur?
7) a)The Supreme Court on page 6 writes the following: “If anything, censures along these lines have proven more common yet at the state and local level.” Why is this relevant?
b) On page 7 the Court lays down a rule based on precedents.
What is the rule?
8)Why did the Supreme Court believe that Mr Wilson’s status as an “elected official” would not help his case?
9)On page 9 the Court noted that “after the Board’s first reprimand, Mr. Wilson did not exactly cower silently.”
10) a)What did they mean by this?
b)Why was that not a good thing for Mr Wilson’s case?
a)Mr Wilson brought up the case Bond v. Floyd, 385 U. S. 116 (1966). What happened in that case, in your own words.
b)Why did they determine this case was not relevant to the case at hand?
c) In the last paragraph the Supreme Court says “Our case is a narrow one.” What do they mean?
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