3 Court Cases of Interest

1. In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled, 5–4, that the government cannot restrict the spending of corporations for political campaigns, maintaining that it's their First Amendment right to support candidates as they choose. This court case dealt with the freedom of expression and association. I chose this case because it dealt with a very important even in our country and deals with the way campaigns go about. This decision is not only prominent now, but I would like to see how this decision affects future presidential candidates and how they choose to run. I enjoy business and this case involves large corporations and sponsorships.
2. District of Columbia v. Heller:
   
   "For the first time in seventy years, the Court heard a case regarding the central meaning of the Second Amendment and its relation to gun control laws. After the District of Columbia passed legislation barring the registration of handguns, requiring licenses for all pistols, and mandating that all legal firearms must be kept unloaded and disassembled or trigger locked, a group of private gun-owners brought suit claiming the laws violated their Second Amendment right to bear arms. The federal trial court in Washington D.C. refused to grant the plaintiffs relief, holding that the Second Amendment applies only to militias, such as the National Guard, and not to private gun ownership.
   The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit disagreed, voting two to one that the Second Amendment does in fact protect private gun owners such as plaintiffs. Petitioners agree with the trial court's decision that the Second Amendment applies only to militias, and further argue that (a) the Second Amendment should not apply to D.C. because it is a federal enclave rather than a state, and (b) that the D.C. legislation merely regulates, rather than prohibits, gun ownership. Respondents, although disagreeing on the merits, have also urged the Court to review the case in order to clearly define the relationship between federal gun control laws and the Second Amendment." This case deals with the second amendment and the right to bear arms. It interested me because at first the decision surprised me and it seems to be very interesting. I also am a firm believer on strict gun laws, so i was intrigued to hear what side the court favored.
   3. Samson v. California: A police officer stopped and searched Samson on the street in San Bruno, California. The officer had no warrant and later admitted he had stopped Samson only because he knew him to be on parole. The officer found that Samson was in possession of methamphetamines. Samson was arrested and charged with drug possession in state court. At trial Samson argued the drugs were inadmissible as evidence, because the search had violated his Fourth Amendment rights. The trial court denied the motion and the state supreme court declined to hear the case. This court case deals with the fourth amendment and a police officers need for a warrant and probable cause to search something. i found it interesting that the state supreme court decided not to hear the case. I chose this case because I think police officers sometimes go to far in situations, so i wanted to see how a court would rule on a case like this.