Courts, Rights, and the Rule of Law

Terrance standing in a courtroom

Terrance and Martina pulled several cases from the Supreme Court archives to help explain the right to privacy, equal rights, and the rule of law. First, the duo discovered that through Roe v. Wade, Americans have a right to privacy. When they examined the history of Riley v. California, Terrance and Martina found out that digital information on cell phones is also protected. Next, the two saw that equal rights in the country have been established based on cases like Loving v. Virginia that struck down a state law prohibiting interracial marriage, and Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona that invalidated a state law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Finally, Terrance and Martina explored the rule of law through the court case Gideon v. Wainwright, which established that states must provide counsel to needy defendants. Similarly, they discovered through Snyder v. Phelps that protests of public concern are protected under the First Amendment. It is clear that the Supreme Court truly has a difficult job judging the legality of laws.