Explore the ideological tendencies of the majority and minority of the current U.S. Supreme Court. What is meant by

 Explore the ideological tendencies of the majority and minority of the current U.S. Supreme Court. What is meant by “liberal” or “conservative” judges? Considering the process for selecting Supreme Court justices, is it possible for politics to not play a role in the process? Explain how these ideological/political tendencies shape U.S. Supreme Court opinions. It is recommended that your post contain approximately 400 words. 

Required Resources

Text

Spohn, C., & Hemmens, C. (2012).  Courts: A text/reader  (2nd ed.). Sage.

• Section V: Pretrial Proceedings

Website

United States Courts. (n.d.). Criminal cases (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/HowCourtsWork/CriminalCases.aspx

• The article provides an outline of federal criminal procedure, from arraignment through sentencing.

Recommended Resources 

Articles

Owens, R. J., & Wedeking, J. P. (2011). Justices and legal clarity: Analyzing the complexity of U.S. Supreme Court opinions.Law & Society, 45(4), 1027-1061. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5893.2011.00464.x

• The full-text version of this article is available in the ProQuest database in the University of Arizona Global Campus Library. This article provides an examination of the significance of clarity in legal decisions and explains the liabilities for a lack of legal clarity in U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

Smith, C. E., McCall, M., & McCall, M. (2006). Criminal justice and the 2004-2005 United States Supreme Court term.The University of Memphis Review, 36(4). Retrieved from http://www.memphis.edu/law/lawreview.php

• The full-text version of this article is available in the ProQuest database in the University of Arizona Global Campus Library. A detailed analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court and its transition from the “Rehnquist Court” to the “Roberts Court.”

Multimedia

Ishmael, P. [Patrick Ishmael]. (2012, May 14).  Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer debate the Constitution (Links to an external site.)  [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4n8gOUzZ8I

• This video clip of an interview with the two justices provides insights into their reasoning and rulings on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Legal Materials

Clark v. Arizona (Links to an external site.), 548 U.S. 735 (2006).

• This case highlights information about the insanity defense. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_05_5966

Davis v. United States (Links to an external site.), 131 S. Ct. 2419 (2011).

• This case highlights information about the admissibility of an illegal search. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2009/2009_08_1224

Davis v. Washington (Links to an external site.), 547 U.S. 813 (2006).

• This case highlights information about the admissibility of a 911 call at trial. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_05_5224

Florida v. Powell (Links to an external site.), 559 U.S. 50 (2010).

• This case highlights information about Miranda warnings. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2009/2009_08_1175

Giles v. California (Links to an external site.), 554 U.S. 353 (2008).

• This case highlights information about the admissibility of a dead victim’s statements in a trial. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2007/2007_07_6053

Graham v. Florida (Links to an external site.), 560 U.S. 48 (2010).

• This case highlights information about whether a life sentence for juveniles violate the Eighth Amendment. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2009/2009_08_7412

Greenlaw v. United States (Links to an external site.), 554 U.S. 237 (2008).

• This case highlights information about whether a court can enhance sentences without a prosecutor request. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2007/2007_07_330

Herring v. United States (Links to an external site.), 555 U.S. 135 (2009).

• This case highlights information about erroneous search warrants requiring suppression of evidence. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2008/2008_07_513

Holmes v. South Carolina (Links to an external site.), 547 U.S. 319 (2006).

• This case highlights information about excluding defense evidence. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_04_1327

Hudson v. Michigan (Links to an external site.), 547 U.S. 586 (2006).

• This case highlights information about the Fourth Amendment and the “knock and announce” rule. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_04_1360

J.D.B. v. North Carolina (Links to an external site.), 131 S. Ct. 2394 (2011).

• This case highlights information about whether age matters for Miranda warnings. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2010-2019/2010/2010_09_11121

Kennedy v. Louisiana (Links to an external site.), 554 U.S. 407 (2008).

• This case highlights information about the death penalty for child rape. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2007/2007_07_343

Maryland v. King (Links to an external site.), 133 S. Ct. 1958 (2013).

• This case highlights information about DNA collections for database upon mere arrest. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2010-2019/2012/2012_11_207

McDonald v. Chicago (Links to an external site.), 561 U.S. 742 (2010).

• This case highlights information about gun rights. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2009/2009_08_1521

Missouri v. McNeely (Links to an external site.), 133 S. Ct. 1552 (2013).

• This case highlights information about police drawing blood without a warrant for driving under the influence. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2010-2019/2012/2012_11_1425

Oregon v. Guzek (Links to an external site.), 546 U.S. 517 (2006).

• This case highlights information about death sentence evidence. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_04_928

Salinas v. Texas (Links to an external site.), 133 S. Ct. 2174 (2013).

• This case highlights information about the Fifth Amendment’s protection of silence before arrest or Miranda rights. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2010-2019/2012/2012_12_246

United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez (Links to an external site.)

• This case highlights information about a defendant’s right to have a chosen lawyer. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_05_352

United States v. Jones (Links to an external site.), 132 S. Ct. 945 (2012).

• This case highlights information about whether a warrantless tracking of a car violates the Fourth Amendment. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2010-2019/2011/2011_10_1259

United States v. Williams (Links to an external site.), 553 U.S. 285 (2008).

• This case highlights information about whether child pornography is protected by free speech. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2007/2007_06_694

Yeager v. United States (Links to an external site.), 557 U.S. 110 (2009).

• This case highlights information about double jeopardy. It can be retrieved from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2008/2008_08_67