Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Gr 10 Up—Significant changes and additions distinguish this update of the 2004 single-volume edition. The set features summaries for an additional 250 cases. This allows for the inclusion of new chapters that examine case law in fields such as criminal rights, the death penalty, federalism, and Native American law and sovereign immunity, all areas that received much less attention in the previous work. The format is different now, too; each chapter boasts an introduction and whereas the cases were previously alphabetically arranged, now the material is presented chronologically, allowing users to see the development of the law over time and to understand how the Court established and either used or overturned precedent in decisions. The 600-plus case summaries average about two to three pages in length, identify key issue(s), and provide a clear and objective history of the case, a summary of arguments, and analysis of the decision and its aftermath and significance. Entries also include a list of related cases, the statute at issue, and an updated list of additional resources. A small number of the summaries used in the first edition have been revised for clarity or to include new information, but most are unchanged. The indexing is extensive. This edition, with its more logical arrangement, improves upon its predecessor by giving users a comprehensive look at the Supreme Court decisions that have most influenced the development of American life. A valuable resource for advanced secondary students.—Mary Mueller, formerly at Rolla Junior High School, MO