Latinos and American Law : Landmark Supreme Court Cases

To achieve justice and equal protection under the law, Latinos have turned to the U.S. court system to assert and defend their rights. Some of these cases have reached the United States Supreme Court, whose rulings over more than a century have both expanded and restricted the legal rights of Latinos, creating a complex terrain of power relations between the U.S. government and the country's now-largest ethnic minority. To map this legal landscape, Latinos and American Law examines fourteen landmark Supreme Court cases that have significantly affected Latino rights, from Botiller v. Dominguez in 1889 to Alexander v. Sandoval in 2001. Carlos Soltero organizes his study chronologically, looking at one or more decisions handed down by the Fuller Court (1888-1910), the Taft Court (1921-1930), the Warren Court (1953-1969), the Burger Court (1969-1986), and the Rehnquist Court (1986-2005). For each case, he opens with historical and legal background on the issues involved and then thoroughly discusses the opinion(s) rendered by the justices. He also offers an analysis of each decision's significance, as well as subsequent developments that have affected its impact. Through these case studies, Soltero demonstrates that in dealing with Latinos over issues such as education, the administration of criminal justice, voting rights, employment, and immigration, the Supreme Court has more often mirrored, rather than led, the attitudes and politics of the larger U.S. society. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 A. THE FULLER COURT (1888–1910)......Page 20 1. Botiller v. Dominguez (1889), Mexican Land Grants, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo......Page 22 B. THE TAFT COURT (1921–1930)......Page 30 2. Balzac v. Porto [sic] Rico (1922), the Insular Cases (1901), and Puerto Rico’s Status in the American Legal System......Page 32 C. THE WARREN COURT (1953–1969)......Page 48 3. Hernandez v. Texas (1954) and the Exclusion of Mexican-Americans from Grand Juries......Page 50 4. Katzenbach v. Morgan (1966) and Voting Rights of Puerto Ricans with Limited English Proficiency......Page 61 5. Miranda v. Arizona (1966) and the Rights of the Criminally Accused......Page 74 D. THE BURGER COURT (1969–1986)......Page 88 6. San Antonio ISD v. Rodriguez (1973) and the Search for Equality in School Funding......Page 90 7. Espinoza v. Farah Mfg. Co. (1973) and “National Origin” Discrimination in Employment......Page 108 8. United States v. Brignoni-Ponce (1975), Law and Order on the Border......Page 120 9. Plyler v. Doe (1982) and Educating Children of Illegal Aliens......Page 131 E. THE REHNQUIST COURT (1986–2005)......Page 146 10. INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca (1987), Refugees, and Political Asylum......Page 148 11. U.S. v. Verdugo-Urquidez (1990) and Limits to the Applicability of the Bill of Rights Geographically and as to Only “The People”......Page 158 12. Hernandez v. New York (1991) and the Exclusion of Bilingual Jurors......Page 170 13. Johnson v. DeGrandy (1994), Cuban-Americans, and Voting Rights in the American Legal System......Page 184 14. Alexander v. Sandoval (2001), Title VI, and the Court’s Refusal to Consider the Validity of English-Only Laws or Rules......Page 198 Conclusion......Page 208 Notes......Page 214 Bibliography......Page 230 Featured Supreme Court Cases and Lower Court Companion Cases......Page 236 Other Supreme Court Cases......Page 237 Other Federal Cases......Page 240 Other Cases......Page 241 Cases Mentioned......Page 242 General Index......Page 246 Botiller V. Dominguez (1889), Mexican Land Grants, And The Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo -- Balzac V. Porto [sic] Rico (1922), The Insular Cases (1901) And Puerto Rico's Status In The American Legal System -- Hernandez V. Texas (1954) And The Exclusion Of Mexican-americans From Grand Juries -- Katzenbach V. Morgan (1966) And Voting Rights Of Puerto Ricans With Limited English Proficiency -- Miranda V. Arizona (1966) And The Rights Of The Criminally Accused -- San Antonio Isd V. Rodriguez (1973) And The Search For Equality In School Funding -- Espinoza V. Farah Mfg. Co. (1973) And National Origin Discrimination In Employment -- United States V. Brignoni-ponce (1975), Law And Order On The Border -- Plyler V. Doe (1982) And Educating Children Of Illegal Aliens -- Ins V. Cardoza-fonseca (1987), Refugees, And Political Asylum -- U.s. V. Verdugo-urquidez (1990) And Limits To The Applicability Of The Bill Of Rights Geographically And As To Only The People -- Hernandez V. New York (1991) And The Exclusion Of Bilingual Jurors -- Johnson V. Degrandy (1994), Cuban-americans, And Voting Rights In The American Legal System -- Alexander V. Sandoval (2001), Title Vi, And The Court's Refusal To Consider The Validity Of English-only Laws Or Rules. Carlos R. Soltero. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 217-222) And Index. A historical overview and analysis of fourteen landmark Supreme Court cases that have significantly affected Latino rights in such areas as education, the administration of criminal justice, voting rights, employment, and immigration.