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Employment Div., Dept. of Human Resources of Ore. v. Smith
The Supreme Court ruled that neutral laws prohibiting peyote use are valid even when it is used for religious purposes, narrowing Free Exercise rights.
US v. Desurra
The court upheld a drug distribution conviction. It found methamphetamine intoxication did not negate the specific intent needed for the federal offense.
People v. Reyes
The court upheld a drug possession conviction. Large drug quantities, packaging, and cash provided sufficient evidence of intent to sell.
Grinspoon v. Drug Enforcement Admin.
The court ordered the DEA to reconsider marijuana's Schedule I classification. The DEA improperly excluded scientific evidence about its medical uses during the initial review.
US v. Caudle
The Fifth Circuit dismissed MDMA indictments because the DEA did not follow proper procedures when temporarily listing the drug as a Schedule I controlled substance.
State v. Fox
The Utah Supreme Court upheld Gary Fox's marijuana conviction but reversed Clive Fox's due to a lack of evidence.
In re Handa
The court upheld denying bail to a narcotics defendant due to public safety concerns. The ruling cited patterns of drug-related recidivism.
People v. Stout
United States v. Lyons
The court rejected drug addiction alone as an insanity defense. It narrowed the legal standard, requiring an inability to appreciate wrongfulness, not to control one's actions.
Wellman v. Faulkner
The prison's overcrowding and infrequent medical care violated the Eighth Amendment. This showed deliberate indifference, requiring remedies and damages.
United States v. Place
The Supreme Court ruled that seizing luggage for an extended time without probable cause is unconstitutional. A brief dog sniff, however, is not considered a search.
People v. Cardenas
The California Supreme Court ruled that evidence of a defendant's friends' drug use was unfairly prejudicial and could not be admitted in court. This decision affirmed fair trial protections.
Rhodes v. Chapman
The Supreme Court ruled that prison conditions violate the Eighth Amendment only if they inflict unnecessary pain or are grossly disproportionate to the crime.
Inmates of Allegheny Cty. Jail v. Pierce
The court found potential constitutional violations in a jail's psychiatric care due to inadequate staffing. It upheld bans on contact visits and methadone for pretrial detainees.
Bell v. Wolfish
The Supreme Court ruled pretrial detainees cannot be punished before conviction. However, restrictions reasonably related to legitimate government objectives are not considered punishment.