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Smith v. Follette
The 2nd Circuit Court upheld a law allowing judges to sentence people with drug addiction who committed felonies to prison instead of treatment. The ruling stated this did not violate due process or equal protection.
Holt v. Sarver
Arkansas prisons violated the Eighth Amendment with inadequate medical care and rehabilitation. The court found cruel and unusual punishment based on the overall conditions.
Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents
This case established individuals can sue federal agents for Fourth Amendment violations, like warrantless drug raids. It paved the way for accountability in narcotics enforcement.
Leary v. United States
The Supreme Court ruled the Marihuana Tax Act violated Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and due process. The law unconstitutionally assumed illegal importation without proof.
People v. Moore
The court reversed a drug possession conviction. A warrantless search violated the defendant's Fourth Amendment rights, making the evidence inadmissible.
Powell v. Texas
The Supreme Court upheld a Texas law against public intoxication, ruling it targeted conduct, not a status, and therefore did not violate the Eighth Amendment.
United States v. Moore
The D.C. Circuit upheld a heroin possession conviction, rejecting an addiction defense due to scientific uncertainty and congressional deference. The court remanded for possible treatment through a diversion program.
Bailey v. United States
The Court upheld a warrantless search based on probable cause for heroin offenses. It also rejected an addiction defense as a bar to criminal liability.
Driver v. Hinnant
The court ruled that jailing a chronic alcoholic for public intoxication was unconstitutional. Alcoholism was recognized as a disease, making such conduct involuntary and not punishable.
Easter v. District of Columbia
The court ruled that chronic alcoholism is a defense to public intoxication, finding it unconstitutional to criminalize the condition. This decision protects individuals with alcoholism from cruel punishment.
People v. Victor
The court upheld a narcotics conviction, finding the defendant's prior drug-seeking behavior disproved the entrapment defense.
Brown v. United States
The court reversed a conviction, finding the defendant was wrongly denied court assistance to develop an insanity defense based on drug addiction. He was entitled to support for this defense.
Castle v. United States
The D.C. Circuit affirmed a conviction, ruling that addiction alone does not constitute legal insanity. The court upheld the jury's role in determining criminal responsibility.
People v. Ortiz
The court reversed a heroin conviction, ruling police entry and search lacked legal justification and violated constitutional protections.
In re De La O
The Supreme Court upheld California's civil commitment law for narcotic addicts, prioritizing treatment and rehabilitation over criminal punishment for drug users.