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New York City Transit Authority v. Beazer
The Court upheld a transit authority's ban on methadone users working, finding it did not violate equal protection.
Bordenkircher v. Hayes
The Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors can threaten or bring harsher charges during plea bargaining if the defendant doesn't plead guilty, as long as the charges have probable cause.
Todaro v. Ward
The court held that consistent delays and denials of medical care in prison can show deliberate indifference. This means systemic failures in care can be unconstitutional, not just isolated incidents.
Whalen v. Roe
The Supreme Court upheld New York's prescription drug registry, finding that data collection to prevent drug misuse does not violate privacy rights.
Manson v. Brathwaite
An identification procedure may be allowed even if suggestive, provided the identification is reliable under all the circumstances. Reliability is the key factor for due process.
Estelle v. Gamble
The Supreme Court ruled that deliberately ignoring a prisoner's serious medical needs is unconstitutional. However, medical negligence alone, without intent, is not a violation.
United States v. Masthers
A guilty plea is invalid if evidence suggests the defendant is not mentally competent. Courts must hold a hearing to ensure a plea is knowing and voluntary when mental competence is in doubt.
United States v. Moore
The Supreme Court ruled physicians treating addiction can be prosecuted under the Controlled Substances Act if their prescribing practices fall outside accepted medical standards.
Ravin v. State
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that adults have a constitutional right to privacy to possess and use marijuana at home. This right stands unless the state proves a compelling reason to intervene.
People v. Broadie
The Court of Appeals upheld mandatory life sentences for narcotics sales. It ruled that severe, inflexible penalties for drug offenses were not unconstitutionally disproportionate.
Breed v. Jones
The Supreme Court ruled that trying a juvenile as an adult for a crime they were already convicted of in juvenile court violates the Double Jeopardy Clause. Juvenile courts generally hold exclusive jurisdiction once a juvenile is tried.
United States v. Bass
The court held that Demerol addiction is relevant to an insanity defense. Bass's conviction was reversed because the government did not rebut expert testimony.
Cudnik v. Kreiger
A 1974 case ruled that denying pretrial detainees prescribed methadone treatment violated due process. The court ordered jail officials to allow detainees continued access to their approved methadone programs.
O’Brien v Moriarty
The Court found cell confinement did not violate the 8th Amendment. However, it cautioned that arbitrary or prolonged solitary confinement could become unconstitutional, while deferring to prison security judgments.
United States v. Kiffer
The court upheld marijuana distribution convictions, finding Congress's drug classification was rational. The law includes a mechanism for future scientific reassessment of the drug's status.