1. 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.
2. Analyze a criminal case opinion issued by the U.S. Supreme Court, 2005 or later; explain the issue(s) in the case, the holding of the case, its basis, the number of justices for and against the opinion, and whether it set precedent (i.e., new law) or merely reaffirmed long-standing constitutional values. Identify the justice who authored the opinion, and provide that justice's ideology. You may choose any case listed below, or locate a criminal U.S. Supreme Court case, 2005 or later, to analyze.
Clark v. Arizona (2006) [Insanity Defense]
• Davis v. United States (2011) [Illegal Search Admissible]
• Davis v. Washington (2006) [911 Call Admissible at trial?]
• Florida v. Powell (2009) [Miranda Warnings]
• Giles v. California (2008) [Dead victim's statements not admissible at trial?]
• Graham v. Florida (2010) [Life Sentence for Juvenile Violate Eighth Amendment?]
• Greenlaw v. United States (2008) [Can court enhance sentence without prosecutor request?]
• Herring v. United States (2009) [Erroneous Search Warrant Require Suppression of Evidence?]
• Holmes v. South Carolina (2006) [Exclude Defense Evidence?]
• Hudson v. Michigan (2006) [Fourth Amendment "Knock and Announce" Rule]
• J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011) [Age Matter for Miranda Warnings?]
• Kennedy v. Louisana (2007) [Death penalty for child rape?]
• Maryland v. King (2013) [DNA Collected for Data Base for Mere Arrest?]
• McDonald v. Chicago (2010) [Gun Rights]
• Missouri v. McNeely (2013) [Police Take Blood without a Warrant for DUI?]
• Oregon v. Guzek (2006) [Death Sentence Evidence]
• Salinas v. Texas (2013) [Fifth Amendment Protect Silence Before Arrest or Miranda?]
• United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez (2006) [Defendant have right to chosen lawyer?]
• United States v. Jones (2012) [Warrantless Tracking Car Violate Fourth Amendment?]
• United States v. Williams (2008) [Child Pornography Protected by Free Speech?]
• Yeager v. United States(2009) [Double Jeopardy]