What is Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

Plessy v. Ferguson was a court case that took place within the State of Louisiana with regard to the investigation and analysis of racial discrimination suffered by African Americans; this racial discrimination was considered to be prominent within the Southern States. Homer Plessy, who was considered to be 7/8th’s of Caucasian descent, boarded a railroad car operated by the State of Louisiana; due to applicable legislation enacted with regard to races permitted on individual railroad cars, Plessy was requested to vacate what was considered to be a ‘Whites Only’ car – upon his refusal, he was subsequently arrested:

(1890) The State of Louisiana passes the Louisiana Railway Car Act; a law requiring the distinction and operation of separate railway cars for both African Americans and Caucasians

The Case Profile of Plessy v. Ferguson

The following is a case profile of the legal trial eponymously titled ‘Plessy v. Ferguson’:

Date of the Trial: 1896

Legal Classification: Civil Law; Civil Law is a legal field in that typically addresses nonviolent circumstances and events that are perceived as presumable wrongs suffered – Civil Law  cases this judicial review within Civil Law is typically reliant upon legal statutes in lieu of past court cases, decisions, or preexisting findings

United States Reports Case Number: 163 U.S. 537

Date of the Delivery of the Verdict: May 18th, 1896

Legal Venue: The Supreme Court of the United States

Judicial Officer Responsible for Ruling: Justice Henry Billings Brown

Involved Parties: The following are the parties named with regard to their involvement in the Plessy v. Ferguson case:

Homer Plessy – named as the plaintiff – accused Louisiana State Legislature as violating the terms of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which expressed the requirement for equality amongst all citizens of the United States; he perceived his removal from the rail road car to be in direct violation of equal rights

John Howard Ferguson – named as the defendant – was an attorney and legislative representative operating in Louisiana; he was responsible for the passing of the Louisiana Railway Car Act

Verdict Delivered: 7 out of the 8 Supreme Court Justices ruled in favor of the defendant, John Howard Ferguson; John Marshall Harlan was the only Justice to present an opposing ruling

Associated Legislation with regard to Plessy v. Ferguson: The following statutory regulations were employed with regard to the Plessy v. Ferguson trial:

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery, declaring forced servitude and disenfranchisement to be illegal

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution required that citizens of the United States be entitled to equal rights

Subsequent Cases Associated with Plessy v. Ferguson: The following legal cases and trials made mention and reference to the findings undertaken in Plessy v. Ferguson:

The ideology of  ‘Separate but Equal’ was made famous as a result of this case; the findings stated that the Louisiana Railway Car Act did not deny the African American population of Louisiana equal rights – in contrast, this ruling alleged that the rights were mandated on an equal basis within required segregation

Who was Pretty Boy Floyd?

Charles Arthur Floyd, known by his nickname ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ was an individual who both masterminded and engaged in a various string of bank robberies between 1929 and his death in 1934. Pretty Boy Floyd was first arrested in 1929 for alleged vagrancy and robbery; however, Pretty Boy Floyd was only incarcerated for a number of his days prior to his release – subsequent to his release, Pretty Boy Floyd ensured that he would never again be subject to incarceration. Within his string of criminal activities, Pretty Boy Floyd was accused of crimes including robbery, as well as murder; however, the sole murder for which Pretty Boy Floyd was charged was for the killing of an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Agent on July 22nd, 1931:

During his crime spree, Pretty Boy Floyd was accused of the robbery of a multitude of banks; he was reported to have stolen thousands of dollars

Pretty Boy Floyd were amongst the main suspects with regard to the ‘Kansas City Massacre’, which is classified as a gunfight taking place between the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Pretty Boy Floyd’s gang; 4 FBI Agents were reported as being killed in this firefight on June 17th, 1933 – however, Pretty Boy Floyd was never convicted for any of the murders

The Case Profile of Pretty Boy Floyd

The following is a case profile of both the crimes of Pretty Boy Floyd, as well as a legal classification of statutory legislation associated with the case:

Date of Birth: Pretty Boy Floyd was born on February 3rd, 1904 in Adairsville, Georgia; he was killed on October 22nd, 1934 in East Liverpool, Ohio – he was 30 years old

Residence: Pretty Boy Floyd frequently changed residences with regard to his criminal activity and fugitive status; he typically resided within the area of Missouri

Dates of Crime: 1929 to 1934

Criminal Charges: Robbery, Resisting Arrest, and Murder

Notable Details and Personal Information: The following personal details have been considered to be contributory to the behavior and criminal actions undertaken by Pretty Boy Floyd; in addition, these case details were made mention within Pretty Boy Floyd’s criminal trial:

Pretty Boy Floyd has been reported as possessing and adamant hatred for the banking system and financial organizations; with regard to certain accounts, Pretty Boy Floyd was considered to be lauded by many civilians in accordance with his opposition of the banking industry

The apprehension of Pretty Boy Floyd was considered to be difficult due to the fact that many resident in the surrounding Kansas City provided him with refuge within their homes in order to avoid capture by law enforcement

Upon being pursued by the FBI, a pursuit led by famed FBI Agent Melvin Pervis, Pretty Boy Floyd was shot and killed; however, the implicit details within the death of Pretty Boy Floyd are still debated within modernity

Varying accounts of Floyd’s death suggest that he was shot by Pervis while in custody; however, this is flatly denied by both Pervis and the FBI

What is Roe v. Wade (1973)?

Roe v. Wade is considered to be amongst the most prolific and important cases heard before the Supreme Court. The circumstances and events within the proceedings of Roe v. Wade determined the legality of the abortion process, which is considered to be the medical procedure in which the pregnancy with regard to an unborn fetus is terminated; the plaintiff Jane Roe – which was a pseudonym granted to her in order to allow her to maintain her anonymity – maintained that the laws forbidding abortion instituted in the State of Texas were in direct violation of the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th Amendments to the Constitution.

The Case Profile of Roe v. Wade

The following is a case profile of the legal trial eponymously titled ‘Roe v. Wade’:

Date of the Trial: 1973

Legal Classification: Family Law; Family Law provides for the legal review in which applicable legislature and legal procedure with regard to family law takes place; this type of legislation may include any or all legal events, classifications, and legislative statutes identified as a result of the undertakings, as well as the involvement of family members in a familial setting

United States Reports Case Number: 410 U.S. 113

Date of the Delivery of the Verdict: January 22nd, 1973

Legal Venue: The Supreme Court of the United States

Judicial Officer Responsible for Ruling: Chief Justice Warren Burger

Involved Parties: The following are the parties named with regard to their involvement in the Roe v. Wade case:

Jane Roe – a pseudonym given to the plaintiff Norma McCorvey – was a pregnant woman residing in the with State of Texas who desired to terminate her pregnancy and was denied as per Texas abortion laws

Henry Wade – named as the defendant – was a Texas lawmaker who was responsible for the enactment of the legal statutes, which deemed abortions to be illegal within the State of Texas

Verdict Delivered: The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jane Roe; 4 Justices approved of the ruling, 2 Justices simply concurred with the ruling, and 2 Justices opposed the ruling

Associated Legislation with regard to Roe v. Wade: The following statutory regulations were employed with regard to the Roe v. Wade trial:

1st Amendment to the Constitution; this Amendment affords citizens of the United States with the freedom of religion, the freedom of press, the freedom of speech, and the right of assembly

4th Amendment to the Constitution; this Amendment prohibits the unlawful search and seizure of resident belonging to citizens of the United States of America in addition to the provision of  rights of privacy entitled to citizens of the United States

5th Amendment to the Constitution; this Amendment addresses the modern incarnation of the ‘Right to remain silent’, in addition to the prevention of the unlawful and unethical abuse of power undertaken by a governing body

9th Amendment to the Constitution; this Amendment disallows for the violation of civil liberties and unlawful expansion of governmental power

14th Amendment to the Constitution; this Amendment ensures that all citizens of the United States are to be afforded the provision of equal rights and protection

Salem Witch Trials Fact #1: What were the Salem Witch Trials?

The Salem Witch Trials occurred within the New England town of Salem, Massachusetts over a period a year; Salem Witch Trials Facts date these trials to have occurred between February of 1692 and May of 1693. The Salem Witch Trials involved the unlawful and unethical prosecution of individuals accused of participating and engaging in witchcraft; subsequent to the illness suffered by a number of children with the community of Salem, that illness was believed to be a direct result of the practicing of witchcraft; this resulted in the accusation of many individuals with regard to their presumed – albeit unfounded – participation in witchcraft and ‘Dark Arts’. In addition to witchcraft, the notion of the ‘Dark Arts’ is considered to be a catchall term describing any actions or spiritual activity believed to be Satanic – or occult – in nature.

Salem Witch Trials Fact #2: How were the Victims of the Salem Witch Trials Selected?

A vast array of Salem Witch Trials Facts presented by historians suggests that the nature of the selection process within the Salem Witch Trials varied. Initially, the victims were assumed to be viewed as nuisances and outcasts with regard to the community of Salem; however, subsequent to the accusation set forth with regard to certain individuals perceived to be longstanding and contributory members of the Salem community, that theory was soon abolished. In conjunction to the proceedings of the Salem Witch Trials, events that had taken place within the community were perceived to be the direct result of the practice of witchcraft; these included:

The communities supply of rye being subject to corrosion

Reports stating that the accused had appeared in the form of spirits or ghosts before other members of the community

Children of the community acting in presumably strange manners, which included uncontrollable fits and illness

Salem Witch Trials Fact #3: Who were the Victims of the Salem Witch Trials?

Salem Witch Trials Facts set forth by historians list the victims of these illicit proceedings to number a total of 19 individuals who were sentenced to death as a result of their assumed involvement in witchcraft; in addition, the total number of individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned has not been determined. Within the victims of the Salem Witch Trials, Salem Witch Trials Facts express that both men and women were victimized by these trials; some of the victims included:

Tituba; a house worker in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris

Sarah Good; a house worker in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris

Sarah Osborne; a house worker in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris

Rebecca Nurse; a well-respected member of the Salem community

Martha Corey; a well-respected member of the Salem community

Salem Witch Trials Fact #4: What Evidence Was Used to Convict the Accused?

Due to the fact that mass hysteria – in lieu of substantial and founded evidence – was employed by the accusers and legal officials presiding of the Salem Witch Trials, Salem Witch Trials Facts presented by historians suggest that a nature of presumed, unfounded, and spurious evidence titled ‘Spectral Evidence’ was used to provide a nature of proof of the accused participation in witchcraft. Spectral Evidence merely acted as subjected and improvable heresy with regard to any or all presumed participation.

What were the Salem Witch Trials?

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of ongoing criminal trials and investigations that took place between the months of February of 1662 and May of 1663 in Salem, Massachusetts – a small Massachusetts town in New England. Within the proceedings of the Salem Witch Trials, a total of 19 men and women were sentenced to death for their alleged participation in witchcraft and the ‘dark arts’; the dark arts were considered to be activity that was both occult and Satanic in nature. In modernity, historians cite the Salem Witch Trials as amongst the most corrupt and unethical legal proceedings to have taken place within the boundaries of the United States; however, at the time of the Salem Witch Trials, the concept of the United States had not yet been developed – the area now considered to be the United States was merely referred to as ‘The British Colonies’.

What is Spectral Evidence?

With regard to the Salem Witch Trials, spectral evidence is regarded as presumed and alleged evidence citing the presence of spirits considered to be notorious, evil, and harmful in nature; due to the implicit difficulty in facilitating tangible evidence of one’s involvement within such activities, the notion of spectral evidence became a standard legal instrument in conjunction with determining an individual’s association with witchcraft and the dark arts. Although the use of spectral evidence was widely used within the Salem Witch Trials, certain reverends residing in Salem had adamantly disputed the substantiality of the use of evidence spectral in nature:

Reverend Cotton Mather, who was a primary opposing force of the use of spectral evidence urged the court system of Salem to abstain from admitting such evidence into their respective trials; this was due to the fact that spectral evidence was considered to be both subjective and unfounded in nature

In addition, a variety of advocates for the victims convicted of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials maintained that the use of spectral evidence could substantiate proof for any event or circumstance in lieu of the presentation of concrete and tangible evidence

The Victims Salem Witch Trials

Prior to the cessation of the Salem Witch Trials in May of 1664, a number of individuals had been incarcerated due to their respective – albeit assumed – participation in witchcraft; furthermore, 19 individuals had been killed as a result of capital punishment upon their respective conviction of witchcraft. The victims of the Salem Witch Trials were primarily assumed to be chosen as a result of their view in the eyes of the community of Salem:

The initial victims, such as house workers named Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne were presumably accused as a result of their presumed – and unfounded – roles as heretics within the community of Salem

Eventual victims of the Salem Witch Trials, Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey, were considered to be longstanding, well-respected members of the community; as a result, theories began to form with regard to a conspiratorial nature of the convictions with the intent of repossessing land, property, and possessions

Who is David Berkowitz?

David Berkowitz is a serial killer who undertook his murderous spree within the State of New York; he is commonly known in accordance to his moniker ‘Son of Sam’, which he had given to himself as a result of his assumed possession by a demonic spirit named ‘Sam’ – David Berkowitz claimed that his possessing demon instructed to him to commit murders through the use of a neighborhood dog as a mouthpiece for such instruction. David Berkowitz’s murderous spree took place between July of 1976 and August of 1977; he was convicted of the murder of 6 individuals and the attempted murder of 2 other individuals.

David Berkowitz Profile

The following outlines the crimes of David Berkowitz

Date of Birth: David Berkowitz was born on June 1st, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York

Residence: 25 Pine Street; this apartment was located in Yonkers, New York

Year of First Killing: David Berkowitz’s first victim was a female named Donna Lauria on July 29th, 1976; Lauria was in a parked car at the time of her murder

Year of Apprehension: After several reports submitted by Yonkers residents, David Berkowitz was arrested on August 10th, 1977; as the time of his arrest, he had a .44 Caliber Bulldog handgun on his person – this weapon matched the ballistic reports submitted with regard to the investigation of Berkowitz’s other murders

Notable Details and Personal Information: The following personal details have been considered to be contributory to the behavior and criminal actions undertaken by David Berkowitz; in addition, these case details were made mention within David Berkowitz’s criminal trial:

David Berkowitz had continually sent correspondence letters to local newspapers and law enforcement agencies in which he demanded that the letters be printed; within the text of his letters, he undertook ranting about his demonic possession and nature of his murders

Subsequent to his arrest and conviction, a legal statute known as the ‘Son of Sam Law’ was enacted that prohibited criminals from profiting from their crimes. Prior to this law being passed, criminals were permitted to be paid for exclusive interviews, in addition to render profit from the sale of their possessions to collectors

Locations of the Murders: David Berkowitz’s murderous spree spanned many of the 5 Boroughs of New York City, including Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn

Victims:  David Berkowitz was charged for the murder of 6 individuals, as well as the attempted murder of 8 individuals

Status as a Serial Killer: David Berkowitz is classified as a serial killer due to the fact that David Berkowitz was convicted of the murder of 3 or more individuals within the duration of a single month; subsequent to these murders, David Berkowitz undertook a break or a ‘rest’ for varying durations of time prior to continuing to murder

Nature of Victims: With regard to the 6 victims murdered by David Berkowitz, 5 of them were females named as Donna Lauria, Christine Freund, Virginia Voskerichian, Valentina Suriani, Stacy Moskowitz; 1 of Berkowitz’s victims was a male named Alexander Esau –  all of his victims were seated in parked cars prior to their respective murders

Punishment and Conviction: On June 12th, 1978, David Berkowitz was sentenced to 365 years in prison without the possibility of parole; he is currently serving his life sentence in the Attica Correctional Facility in the State of New York

Who is Dennis Rader?

Dennis Rader is a convicted serial killer who is also known by his moniker ‘The BTK Killer’, which is an anagram symbolizing ‘Bind, Torture, and Kill’; this nature of killing was considered to be one that Dennis Rader employed in each of his 10 killings, which took place between the years 1974 and 1991 in the State of Kansas. Dennis Rader was known for his method of binding and subduing his victims with rope or pantyhose prior to strangling them; apart from only 1 of his murders, Dennis Rader strangled or caused the suffocation of all of his victims.

Dennis Rader Profile

The following outlines the crimes of Dennis Rader

Date of Birth: Dennis Rader was born on March 9th, 1945 in Pittsburgh, Kansas

Residence: During the time of his killing spree, Dennis Rader was presumed to reside in Wichita, Kansas

Year of First Killing: Dennis Rader’s first killing took place on January 15th, 1974; his victim was named Joseph Otero – a 38 year old male resident of Wichita, Kansas. Otero was reported to have been suffocated by Dennis Rader through the use of a plastic bag.

Year of Apprehension: Dennis Rader was arrested on February 25th, 2005 – more than a decade after his last reported murder

Notable Details and Personal Information: The following personal details have been considered to be contributory to the behavior and criminal actions undertaken by Dennis Rader; in addition, these case details were made mention within Dennis Rader’s criminal trial:

Dennis Rader began sending correspondence to local law enforcement agencies and newspapers with regard to his murderous spree; a spree that was assumed to have become a ‘cold case’ – a cold case is a term for criminal investigations that have neither been solved nor are currently undergoing investigation

Subsequent to sending correspondence to law enforcement agency in the form of an electronic file, Dennis Rader mistakenly left an electronic document bearing his first name; this prompted a reopening of the ‘BTK Killer’ investigation

Dennis Rader was not only married, but also was a father; he served as a troop leader for his son’s Cub Scout troop

Locations of the Murders: All of Dennis Rader’s murders took place in Wichita, Kansas

Victims:  Dennis Rader was charged for the murder of 10 individuals

Status as a Serial Killer: Dennis Rader is classified as a serial killer due to the fact that Dennis Rader was convicted of the murder of 3 or more individuals within the duration of a single month; his murderous spree lasted almost 2 decades with breaks or ‘rests’ being taken in the interim

Nature of Victims: The nature of Dennis Rader’s 10 victims ranged in both gender and age; he victims were named as: Joseph Otero, Julie Otero, Joseph Otero, Jr., Josephine Otero, Kathryn Bright, Shirley Vian, Nancy Fox, Marine Hedge, Vicki Wegerle, and Dolores Davis.

Punishment and Conviction: Dennis Rader was convicted of all 10 of his murders, which resulted in 10 consecutive life sentences; he is currently serving what is considered a ‘natural life’ sentence – this means that he will presumably die will incarcerated in the El Dorado Correctional Facility in the State of Kansas.

Who is Ed Gein?

Ed Gein was a murderer residing in Lacrosse County, Wisconsin who was convicted of murdering a single individual due to the fact of the severity and disturbing nature of his crimes; in addition to murder, Ed Gein was also convicted of kidnapping, illegally-exhuming corpses from local graveyards, necrophilia, and the defacement of human bodies. Although Ed Gein may be responsible for other murders, he was deemed to lack the mental capability required to stand trial.

Ed Gein Profile

The following outlines the crimes of Ed Gein

Date of Birth: Ed Gein was born on August 27th, 1906; he died of pulmonary and respiratory complications while incarcerated in the State of Wisconsin – his death took place on July 26th, 1984

Residence: Lacrosse County, Wisconsin

Year of First Killing: As previously mentioned, Ed Gein’s crimes typically involved the unlawful and illegal removal of corpses from surrounding gravesites in order to construct household structures from their anatomical parts; the only 2 murders to which Ed Gein confessed were that of Mary Hogan in 1954 and Bernice Worden in 1957 – he was convicted of Worden’s murder

Year of Apprehension: November 16th, 1957; subsequent to the disappearance of hardware store clerk Bernice Worden, Ed Gein was named as the last individual to see her as she worked in the store; law enforcement agents searched Ed Gein’s home and discovered not only Worden’s corpse, but a multitude of mutilated corpses

Notable Details and Personal Information: The following personal details have been considered to be contributory to the behavior and criminal actions undertaken by Ed Gein; in addition, these case details were made mention within Ed Gein’s criminal trial:

A barn belonging to Ed Gein’s family was reported as destroyed in a fire in 1944; upon investigation, Ed Gein’s brother was found dead presumably as a result of injuries suffered from the fire – subsequent to his conviction, speculation was set forth stating that Ed Gein may have killed his brother

Ed Gein lived alone on their family’s farm until her death in 1945; subsequent to her death, Ed Gein was reported as posthumously carrying on conversations with his mother, in addition to preserving her corpse within his home

Locations of the Murders: Lacrosse County, Wisconsin

Victims:  Ed Gein was charged for the murder of 1 individual named Bernice Worden; however, he has been linked to as many as 2 other murders – only one other to which he had confessed

Status as a Serial Killer: Ed Gein is not classified as a serial killer due to the fact that Ed Gein was not convicted of the murder of 3 or more individuals within the duration of a single month; in contrast, Ed Gein’s murders were spread apart in periods of time exceeding a single month

Nature of Victims: Ed Gein primarily participated in the illegal robbery of corpses and their subsequent mutilation and defacement; however, he was believed to have murdered individuals whom he had perceived to share a resemblance to his deceased mother

Punishment and Conviction: On November 21st, 1957, Ed Gein was found guilty for the murder of Bernice Worden that had taken place earlier that year; however, he was found to be mentally insane and unfit to not only stand trial, but retain a conviction for the murder – he was sentenced to life incarceration in the Mendota Mental Health Institute in the State of Wisconsin. He dies there on July 26th, 1984.

What is the ENRON Corporation?

ENRON was a multinational energy corporation that was founded in Omaha, Nebraska; subsequent to a merger with a Houston-based Energy Company, ENROM moved its headquarters to Houston, Texas. The ENRON Scandal is considered to be amongst the most prolific and widely-recognized examples of financial fraud cases within the history of the United States; the crimes of ENRON involved the defrauding on investors and fellow employees of monetary losses estimated to exceed $72 billion:

Investors in the ENRON Corporation were deceived into the belief that their respective investments were rendering massive amounts of financial gain as a result of the figures illustrated by the fraudulent earnings reports – this is estimated to have contributed to a financial loss exceeding $70 billion

The executives of ENRON illegally obtained these funds in lieu of funneling them back into their rightful place in the corporation’s budget; this not only led to the bankruptcy of the ENRON corporation, but also liquefied pension funding set aside for upwards of 22,000 ENRON employees – this figure is estimated to have exceeded $2 billion

The Case Profile of the ENRON Corporation

The following is a case profile of both the crimes of certain members of the ENRON Corporation, as well as a legal classification of statutory legislation associated with the case:

Foundation of the Corporation: ENRON was founded in Omaha, Nebraska on 1985.

Location of ENRON: Houston, Texas

Date of the Crime: 1985 to 2002

Criminal Charges: Financial Fraud including Securities Fraud, Wire Fraud, Embezzlement, False Reporting, Investment Fraud, and Tax Evasion:

Securities Fraud; the production of fraudulent earnings reports reporting deceitful and fallacious figures with regard to gains rendered through investments

Embezzlement; criminal activity that involving the attainment of property, assents, monies, funding, or assets belonging to a business or commercial endeavor through illegal, unlawful, and illicit means as a result of the responsibilities latent within a specific position of administration

Money Laundering; a criminal act of deliberately concealing the nature – or source – of matters involving finance, which can include revenue, income, expenses, investments, and banking

Tax Evasion; the falsification of income and earnings in order to both conceal their earnings, as well as avoid the satisfaction of taxation due

Legal Classification: The ENRON Scandal spanned both Commercial Law and Criminal Law:

Criminal Law; a legal specialty that focuses on both the prosecution and defense of criminal activity conducted in both public, private, and electronic sectors

Financial Law; a legal specialty that focuses on legislation applicable to the activity, exchange, and the circulation of monies or currency

Date of the Trial: Subsequent to an investigation led by the Securities and Exchange Commission between 2001 and 2002, the masterminds of the ENRON scandal were charged and convicted in 2004

Notable Details and Personal Information: The following personal details have been considered to be contributory to the behavior and criminal actions undertaken by ENRON; in addition, these case details were made mention within ENRON’s criminal trial:

Ken Lay; Chief Operations Officer of ENRON (1985-2002) – sentenced to a 10 year prison term

Jeff Skilling; Chief Financial Officer of ENRON (1990-2001) – sentenced to a 24 year prison term

The Background of Munn v. Illinois (1877)

The case of Munn v. Illinois was one of the most prominent of the ‘Granger’ cases, which took place during the second half of the 19th century; within these cases, economic and commercial legislation associated with private commercial operations with regard to their susceptibility to the legal jurisdiction of the State government took place – Munn v. Illinois was an appellate hearing following a conviction of the Munn and Scott Firm. Munn and Scott were convicted of violating the laws set forth by the State of Illinois regulating the maximum rates that a private commercial operation would be able to charge for its services; subsequent to the initial guilty verdict, Scott and Munn appealed the decision before the Supreme Court

The Case Profile of Munn v. Illinois

The following is a case profile of the legal trial eponymously titled ‘Munn v. Illinois’:

Date of the Trial: January 14th – 18th, 1877

Legal Classification: Administrative Law; this legal field associated with events and circumstances in which the Federal Government of the United States engages its citizens, including the administration of government programs, the creation of agencies, and the establishment of a legal, regulatory federal standard

Accused Criminal Activity: The following criminal activity and charges were cited by The Scott and Munn Firm against the State of Illinois within the appeal brought forth subsequent to the initial ruling:

The Munn and Scott Firm maintained that the legislature proposed by ‘The Grange’, which was an association of farmers, was in direct violation of the 14th Amendment; this was due to the fact that private enterprise was considered to be separate from State government

United States Reports Case Number: 94 U.S. 113

Date of the Delivery of the Verdict: March 1st, 1877

Legal Venue of Munn v. Illinois: The Supreme Court of the United States

Judicial Officer Responsible for Ruling: Chief Justice Morrison Waite

Involved Parties: The following are the parties named with regard to their involvement in the Munn v. Illinois case:

The Munn and Scott Firm; Plaintiff – Munn v. Illinois

The State of Illinois; Defendant – Munn v. Illinois

Verdict Delivered: The Supreme Court found the Munn and Scott firm to be guilty of their original conviction. The Supreme Court ruled that private commercial operations presumed to exist in order to benefit the public commercial marketplace were liable to be subject to legislature serving the public interest

Associated Legislation with regard to Munn v. Illinois: The following statutory regulations were employed with regard to the Munn v. Illinois trial:

The 14th Amendment illustrates legislation that disallows the government from infringing on the right(s) to pursue ‘Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness’ with regard to any and all citizens of the United States of America – this statute is applicable to all measures of gender, race, religion, and age

Due process is defined as the government’s obligation to respect, maintain, and uphold the legal rights of its citizen in the event of an arrest; the government must retain an individual’s human rights and liberties – this includes fair, respectful, and ethical treatment devoid of undue violence and harm