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United States v. Wade
The Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant's right to counsel at post-indictment lineups. An in-court identification is allowed only if it comes from a source independent of the uncounseled lineup.
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.
Robinson v. California
The Supreme Court ruled California's law criminalizing drug addiction unconstitutional. The Court held the law punished a person's status, not their actions.
Dusky v. United States
The Supreme Court ruled a defendant must rationally and factually understand court proceedings and be able to consult their lawyer to be competent for trial.
Ashcraft v. Tennessee
The Supreme Court ruled a confession invalid because it was coerced during 36 hours of sleepless police interrogation. The Court recognized sleep deprivation as a form of torture that violates due process.
Buck v. Bell
The Supreme Court upheld Virginia's law allowing forced sterilization of those deemed "feeble-minded." This decision permitted the sterilization of Carrie Buck and excluded people with disabilities from constitutional protections.
Linder v. United States
The Supreme Court overturned a doctor's drug conviction, ruling that good-faith medical care for addiction is outside federal control.
United States v. Behrman
The Court ruled that prescribing morphine to an addict violated the Harrison Narcotics Act. This act made such conduct punishable without requiring proof of criminal intent.
Webb v. United States
The Supreme Court ruled physicians could not prescribe narcotics solely to maintain addiction, only as part of a cure. This led to prosecutions of doctors for maintenance prescriptions.