Tag Archives: US Supreme Court

June 17, 1963

Posted on June 17, 2020 by Joel Byers

On June 17, 1963, the US Supreme Court banned public schools from requiring their students to read the Lord’s Prayer and other Bible verses as part of their daily activities. The Supreme Court said that public schools were… Continue reading →

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April 2, 2014

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Joel Byers

On April 2, 2014, the US Supreme Court ruled that political candidates were a commodity that could be bought and sold just like hog belly futures. They ruled that it was unconstitutional to place restrictions on the total amount of money that individuals (not real persons, but individuals, which included corporations) could donate to political … Continue reading →

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March 7, 1994

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Joel Byers

On March 7, 1994 the United States Supreme Court ruled in Campbell vs Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., that parodies of an original work were generally covered under the doctrine of fair use. The porn industry sighed in relief as they dodged another bullet.

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November 13, 1956

Posted on November 13, 2019 by Joel Byers

On November 13, 1956, the US Supreme Court struck down laws calling for racial segregation on public buses. They refused to rule on religious segregation as the Baptists were going to sit in the back anyway, while the Catholics would be upfront and the Episcopalians would claim the middle.

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July 2, 1976

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Joel Byers

On July 2, 1976, the US Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was not inherently cruel or unusual, but could be if you did it right. They recommended that the brazen bull be brought back. That’s where the condemned is placed in a hollow, bronze bull and then a fire is lit under it, … Continue reading →

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June 26, 2015

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Joel Byers

On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled 5-4, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court Justices said that gay men and women had the same right to screw up their lives as the rest of us.

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June 21, 1915

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Joel Byers

On June 21, 1915, the US Supreme Court handed down its decision in Guinn vs United States and struck down Oklahoma’s grandfather clause which had the effect of denying the right to vote to black people. When Oklahoma was admitted as a state in 1907, its state constitution allowed men of all races to vote, … Continue reading →

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June 16, 1980

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Joel Byers

On June 16, 1980, the US Supreme Court ruled that new forms of life created in labs could be patented. The specific case brought before the US Supreme Court involved a genetically-engineered bacterium that was capable of breaking down crude oil, something no naturally occurring bacteria could do. This has paved the way for future, … Continue reading →

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June 13, 2013

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Joel Byers

On June 13, 2013, the US Supreme Court ruled that naturally occurring DNA segments were not patent eligible just because some firm or company or individual had isolated it. Synthetically created DNA segments, on the other hand, were eligible for patents, since they did not occur naturally. Myriad Genetics, a Utah biotech company had discovered … Continue reading →

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January 17, 1984

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Joel Byers

On January 17, 1984, the US Supreme Court ruled (5-4) that private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing did not violate federal copyright laws, thereby preventing every current and future American from becoming a felon. Chief Justice Warren Burger said that turning an entire generation of Americans into pirates over … Continue reading →

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