If Marbury v. Madison teaches 1Ls about judicial review, then McCulloch v. Maryland teaches them about federal power. This is one of the most important Constitutional Law cases you will read because it answers two huge questions: Can Congress do things that are not expressly listed in the Constitution? Can a state interfere with a valid federal institution? Chief Justice John Marshall’s answer to both questions was basically: federal power is broad within its constitutional s

If you are a 1L in Constitutional Law, there are a few cases you absolutely need to know cold. Marbury v. Madison is one of them. In fact, it may be the case your professor uses to introduce the role of the Supreme Court in the constitutional system. Why? Because Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803) is the case that gave us the foundational idea of judicial review: the power of courts to refuse to enforce laws that conflict with the Constitution. This post is part of a Con L

The shooting death of Trayvon Martin and the subsequent acquittal of George Zimmerman remain among the most widely discussed events in modern Florida criminal law. More than a decade later, the case still shapes public understanding of self-defense, justifiable use of force, and Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. But despite how often the case is referenced, the legal framework is frequently misunderstood. The Zimmerman prosecution did not simply present a generic “Stand Your G

The highly publicized trial of Kouri Richins concluded with a guilty verdict, bringing national attention to a case that combined financial motive, forensic evidence, and strategic prosecution.