Some Major Supreme Court Decisions

Two of these involve the display of the Ten Commandments; one is a Texas case.

The first one listed is an important criminal justice issue which raises the question of police and a restraining order.

CIVIL RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, INJURY AND TORT LAW

Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales, No. 04-278 (U.S.S.C. June 27, 2005)
An individual who has obtained a state-law restraining order does
not have a constitutionally protected property interest in having
the police enforce the restraining order when they have probable
cause to believe it has been violated.

To read the full text of this opinion, go to:
http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/04-278.html


CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, GOVERNMENT LAW

McCreary County v. ACLU, No. 03-1693 (U.S.S.C. June 27, 2005)
A county's manifest objective may be dispositive for determining
whether a display of the Ten Commandments in courthouses violates
the Establishment Clause.

To read the full text of this opinion, go to:
http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/03-1693.html


CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, GOVERNMENT LAW

Van Orden v. Perry, No. 03-1500 (U.S.S.C. June 27, 2005)
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment allows the display
of a monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments on the Texas State
Capitol grounds.

To read the full text of this opinion, go to:
http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/03-1500.html


COPYRIGHT, CYBERSPACE LAW, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

MGM, Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd., No. 04-480 (U.S.S.C. June 27, 2005)
One who distributes a device with the object of promoting its use to
infringe copyright, as shown by clear expression or other
affirmative steps taken to foster infringement, going beyond mere
distribution with knowledge of third-party action, is liable for the
resulting acts of infringement by third parties.

To read the full text of this opinion, go to:
http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/04-480.html


CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE, SENTENCING

Bell v. Thompson, No. 04-514 (U.S.S.C. June 27, 2005)
In a death sentence case, following the denial of defendant's
petition for certiorari, the Court of Appeals abused its discretion
when it withheld its mandate for more than five months without
entering a formal order.

To read the full text of this opinion, go to:
http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/04-514.html