Primary
US Department of Justice

Statement by Attorney General Reno on 35th Anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright

For Students 9th - 10th
This press release outlines the impact the Gideon case has had on the legal system since its announcement by the Supreme Court in 1963.
Website
Other

Streetlaw: Introduction to Law and the Legal System

For Students 9th - 10th
This website, a unit introducing the law and legal system, is organized into six chapters where you can learn about laws, lawmaking, citizen advocacy, dispute settlements, the court system, and lawyers.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This mini-lesson covers the basics of the Supreme Court's decision that prohibited a suspect's statements from being used as evidence unless the suspect has been advised of his or her rights to remain silent. Middle schoolers learn about...
Primary
Other

Touro Law Center: Project Patch: Decided March 18, 1963: Gideon v. Wainwright

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of the 1963 court case, Gideon v. Wainwright and the affect of the outcome of this court case.
Interactive
iCivics

I Civics: Games: Argument Wars

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Games in which players act as lawyers arguing head to head before a judge about real Supreme Court cases.
Handout
Other

Environmental Lawyers Uneasy Over Roberts Nomination

For Students 9th - 10th
Published on July 19th, 2005, this article discusses John Roberts dealings on environmental issues and where he stands on those issues.
Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Supreme Court Justice. She was one of the first female attorneys and fought gender inequality for much of her career as a lawyer, even arguing cases before the Supreme Court prior to herself taking a...
Primary
Other

Janet Reno vs. American Civil Liberties Union

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete transcript outlining the court case between Janet Reno, U.S. Attorney General, and the American Civil Liberties Union, in which the Communications Decency Act was declared unconstitutional.
Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Barry Scheck

For Students 9th - 10th
Academy of Achievement biography of Barry Scheck who is a high profile criminal defense lawyer and co-founder of the Innocence Project.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Annotation 10: Sixth Amendment: Assistance to Council

For Students 9th - 10th
This article uses specific court cases to show how the right to counsel at trial was developed into the present day standard.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Naacp, Constance Baker Motley

For Students 9th - 10th
In this transcript of an interview for Eyes on the Prize, Justice Constance Baker Motley recalls her role as an NAACP attorney in landmark school desegregation cases.
Primary
Cornell University

Cornell University: Law School: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a syllabus for the landmark Supreme Court case of Gideon v. Wainwright which held that state courts are required to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants unable to afford their own attorneys or lawyers.
Website
Other

Streetlaw: Careers in the Law

For Students 9th - 10th
If you are interested in being an attorney, corrections officer, court reporter, forensic scientist, police officer, judge or government agent, check out this description of several legal careers. Learn about salary, required education,...
Website
US Senate

Committee on the Judiciary

For Students 9th - 10th
The Committee on the Judiciary has been called the lawyer for the House of Representatives because of its jurisdiction over matters relating to the administration of justice in Federal courts, administrative bodies, and law enforcement...
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Marshall, Thurgood

For Students 9th - 10th
This very brief encyclopedia entry gives a short overview of Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court judge.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Standard Oil on Trial [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The anti-trust case against Standard Oil, based on the Sherman Antitrust Act, pitted the federal government against the largest corporation in the United States. Read the trial preparation information including the arguments of the...
Article
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Mc Martin Preschool Abuse Trial (1987 90)

For Students 9th - 10th
"They're putting on witnesses who they know are lying. They concealed exonerating evidence. Don't we have enough criminal conduct by the prosecutors to put them behind bars?" "It doesn't work that way," the lawyer laughed. "The law is...
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Jay

For Students 9th - 10th
John Jay epitomized the selfless leader of the American Revolution. Born to a prominent New York family, John Jay gained notoriety as a lawyer in his home state. He favored a moderate approach to Britain but joined his fellow Patriots...
Website
Other

The National Law Journal: Home Page

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Law Journal provides the latest news, legal information and e-law services for the legal professions and law students.
Article
Seymour Brody

Jewish Heroes in America: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has biographical information about the second woman to serve as a Justice of The U.S. Supreme Court.
Handout
Social Studies for Kids

Social Studies for Kids: Thurgood Marshall: Civil Rights Advocate

For Students 9th - 10th
Thurgood Marshall successfully convinced the Supreme Court to rule that segregation was illegal in Brown v. Board of education, then later served on the Court itself. Find out more about this famous lawyer.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Brown vs Board of Education

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive overview and detailed facts about Brown vs Board of Education, a 1954 Supreme Court case won by NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall against school segregation.
Handout
Other

Lambda Legal: Hollingsworth v. Perry

For Students 9th - 10th
Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now known as Hollingsworth v. Perry) was filed on behalf of two same-sex couples by attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies in May 2009, asking for a preliminary order blocking Prop 8. When California Governor Arnold...
Website
Other

Electronic Frontier Foundation

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource is devoted to protecting digital rights through the expertise of lawyers, policy analysts, activists, and technologists and the website contains press releases, court cases and an action center.