Facts—The African American petitioner brought this action against judges of a primary election in Texas for their refusal to allow him to vote by reason of his race or color. This was the second time Nixon had been denied the…
Facts—In 1910 Oklahoma amended its constitution with a “grandfather” clause that prohibited individuals who could not read or write from voting unless they were descendants of individuals who had been so entitled. African American citizens of Oklahoma charged that the…
Facts—Yarbrough and others were convicted in a federal court for having conspired to intimidate a black person from voting for a member of Congress, in violation of the federal statutes. Question—May Congress punish violations of election laws under the Constitution?…
Facts—Connecticut’s “Megan’s Law” requires individuals convicted of sexual offenses to register with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) upon their release. The department makes an Internet registry available in which individuals can find the names and addresses of such individuals…
Facts—Lorelyn Miller was born to a Filipino-national mother in 1970, filed an application for U.S. citizenship in 1991, and was rejected. The next year a U.S. citizen named Charlie Miller who had served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the…
Facts—Colorado voters adopted an amendment to the state’s constitution (Amendment 2) that prohibited all state and local legislation designed to protect homosexuals. The trial court issued a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the amendment; the Colorado Supreme Court decided that…
Facts—The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) applied to state employees except for elected officials or those appointed to policy-making positions. Two Missouri state judges, who were required by state law to retire at the age of 70,…
Facts—Vinson, a former employee, claimed that during her employment at the bank she had been subjected to sexual harassment. She worked at the bank for four years, was discharged in November 1978, and sued in the District Court, claiming that…
Facts—The city of Cleburne, Texas, denied a permit for a group home for the mentally retarded. The U.S. District Court upheld the ordinance and its application, arguing that no fundamental right or suspect class was at issue. By contrast, the…
Facts—Mexican American parents whose children attended elementary and secondary schools in a school district in San Antonio that had a low propertytax base challenged the Texas system of financing public education. The growing disparities between districts in population and taxable…