Thematic Essay
In the United States history the US Supreme Court has made decisions that have had a great impact on American society. In both cases Miranda v. Arizona and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka are examples of decisions which has had a strong impact on the on the citizen rights.
In 1963 Ernesto Miranda was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona for armed robbery of a bank. This was not the first time he had been convicted of armed robbery; he also had been committed for rape and battery. While in police custody he signed a written confession to the robbery. He also signed for kidnapping and raping an 18-year-old woman a couple of days before his robbery. His lawyers appealed, on the grounds that Miranda did not know he was protected from self-incrimination (14th Amendment). The case got to the Supreme Court where chief justice Warren and the other judges overthrew the case. The ruling in 1966, established that accused have the right to remain silent and that prosecutors may not use statements made by defendants while in police custody unless the police have advised them of their rights, which are now known as Miranda Rights.
Another case under Judge Warren which many consider to be the most important case in US history is Brown vs. Board Of Education. After the decision of the Supreme Court about Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, many blacks were trying to gain equality which they deserved. Linda Brown was a black girl attending fifth grade at a public school in Kansas. She was denied admission to a white school even though that school was closer then the school she would have to go to. The NAACP took her case and she was giving Thurgood Marshall as her lawyer. The decision did not arrive that quickly. For two more years the case was argued and argued. They were trying to find the correct interruption of the 14th amendment and the impact on racial segregation in public schools. The decision was finally reached on May 17th 1954 and in favor for Linda Brown. This event was the turning point in desegregation of public schools, and equality among all races.
In United States history the US Supreme Court has made decisions that have had a great impact on American society. Two such case that illustrated the protection the rights of all American citizens even if they are minorities or accused criminals are Miranda v. Arizona and Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. These decisions had a great impact on the way we live today.
