Historic U.S. Court Cases: An Encyclopedia (American Law and Society), Second Edition

This collection of essays looks at over 200 major court cases, at both state and federal levels, from the colonial period to the present. Organized thematically, the articles range from 1,000 to 5,000 words and include recent topics such as the Microsoft antitrust case, the O.J. Simpson trials, and the Clinton impeachment. This new edition includes 43 new essays as well as updates throughout, with end-of-essay bibliographies and indexes by case and subject/name. Historic U.S. Court Cases offers 201 signed essays by political scientists, historians, and legal scholars that highlight major legal issues in five thematic areas: crime and criminal law; governmental organization, power, and procedure; economics and economic regulation; race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability; and civil liberties. Essays generally focus on one or two U.S. Supreme Court cases, although influential cases decided by lower federal courts, the colonial courts, and state courts are also covered. These range from the 1692 Salem witchcraft trials to the O.J. Simpson criminal and civil trials in California state court in the mid-1990s. Landmark cases are the subject of a number of the essays (e.g., Miranda v. Arizona, Roe v. Wade), but many lesser-known cases that are representative of a large body of litigation are included, as well as some, like Jerry Tarkanian's suit against the NCAA, that show "eccentricities in the American legal past." Essays are arranged chronologically within each thematic area and provide the historical and social context, as well as the case's legal significance. Each essay begins with "the case in brief," which outlines the date, location, court, principal participants, and significance of the case. The essays vary in length from 1,000 words for "lesser" cases to 2,000 words for cases of "medium-level significance" and 5,000 words for cases of "monumental importance." Each concludes with a brief bibliography. Following the entries are an index of cases and a subject and name index. This edition contains 43 new essays, half treating cases decided since the publication of the first edition in 1992 and half analyzing older cases. United States v. Microsoft Corporation, Bush v. Gore, and Clinton v. Jones are among the topics of new essays. Most of the essays included in the first edition have been updated by the authors. Format changes in the second edition make it more readable, and the new "Case in Brief" feature offers the user a quick overview. Students and researchers in political science and history, as well as law, will find the encyclopedia useful, and it is recommended for public, academic, and law school libraries. The Two-volume Set Is Arranged By Theme: Criminal Law; Governmental Power; Economic Regulation; Race, Gender, Sexuality And Disability; And Civil Liberties. Each Case Features An Information Box Providing The Case's Vital Statistics (date, Location, Court, Principal Participants, And Significance), A 1,000-5,000 Word Essay (201 In All) Penned By One Of 85 Scholars (lawyers, Legal Historians, Social Scientists, Humanities Professors, Etc.) Identified By Name And Affiliation. Thematic Sections Are Preceded By Concise Introductions, And The Essays 43 New To This Edition Concentrate On The Narrative, Dramatic Dimension Of Legal Disputes Within Their Larger Social And Historical Contexts. Some Essays Have Been Cut And Many Revised For This Edition. New Cases Include Bill Clinton's, And The Disability Case Regarding Golfer Casey Martin Who, Because Of A Disease Affecting His Right Leg, Wanted To Use A Prohibited Golf Cart In The Pga Tour. There Is A Subject And Name Index, And A Case Index. The Set Is Suitable For High School And Above. V. 1. Part 1. Crime And Criminal Law -- Part 2. Governmental Organization, Power, And Procedure -- Part 3. Economics And Economics Regulation -- V. 2. Part 4. Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation And Disability -- Part 5. Civil Liberties -- Index Of Cases, Index Of Names And Subjects. John W. Johnson, Editor. Rev. Ed. Of: Historic U.s. Court Cases, 1690-1990. 1992. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Preface to Second Edition......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Contents......Page 14 Part I Crime and Criminal Law......Page 17 Part II Governmental Organization, Power, and Procedure......Page 184 Part III Economics and Economic Regulation......Page 367 Despite the stirring affirmations of equality in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, thousands of legal disputes in the history of the American colonies and the United States have involved discrimination or perceived discrimination against racial minorities, women, homosexuals, and persons with disabilities.