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State v. Kanter
The Hawaii Supreme Court upheld marijuana criminalization, finding its classification as a narcotic did not violate due process or equal protection. Dissenting justices emphasized privacy.
People v. Lorentzen
The Michigan Supreme Court found a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence for marijuana sale to be cruel and unusual, ruling it disproportionate and ineffective for nonviolent offender rehabilitation.
People v Sinclair
The Michigan Supreme Court overturned a marijuana conviction, ruling that classifying cannabis as a narcotic violated equal protection, as scientific evidence showed it less harmful than opiates.
Papachristou v. Jacksonville
The Supreme Court struck down a vague vagrancy law that allowed arbitrary arrests of marginalized people, including addicts. The ruling found the law lacked due process.
Neil v. Biggers
The Supreme Court ruled that a suggestive eyewitness identification can be used as evidence if it is reliable enough to prevent a high chance of misidentification.
People v. McCabe
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that classifying marijuana with hard narcotics and mandating a 10-year sentence for its sale violated equal protection due to a lack of rational basis.
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.
In Re Winship
The Supreme Court ruled that juvenile delinquency cases requiring confinement must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, aligning with adult criminal trials. This heightened the burden of proof for serious juvenile offenses.
Brady v. United States
The Supreme Court ruled that a guilty plea must be voluntary and informed, with awareness of its consequences. A plea can be valid even if influenced by the risk of a severe sentence.
North Carolina v. Alford
The Supreme Court held that a guilty plea is valid if it is voluntary, intelligent, and supported by strong evidence, even if the defendant maintains innocence. This allows defendants to accept punishment to avoid harsher outcomes.
Sostre v Rockefeller
The Court ruled that extended solitary confinement without due process violated the 8th Amendment. It found isolation risked prisoners' sanity and caused psychological harm, especially when punishing political activity.
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.
Boykin v. Alabama
The Supreme Court ruled a guilty plea requires a voluntary waiver of rights with full understanding. The record lacked this proof, invalidating the plea and reversing the conviction.