Case Studies

  • The Pentagon Papers Case: How the U.S. Government Tried—and Failed—to Silence the Press

    In the summer of 1971, the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling that would forever reshape the relationship between the press and the federal government. The case, New York Times Co. v. United States, better known as the Pentagon Papers case, tested the limits of the First Amendment and government power. At the…

  • The Trial of John Gotti: How A Notorious Mob Boss Finally Got Convicted

    For years, John Gotti eluded justice. As the notorious boss of New York’s Gambino crime family—once the most powerful Mafia organization in the United States—he earned the nickname the “Teflon Don” because criminal charges never seemed to stick. But in 1992, after decades of federal surveillance, betrayal from within, and unprecedented courtroom strategy, the Teflon…

  • Bush v. Gore: The Court Case That Decided A Presidential Election

    On December 12, 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5–4 decision in Bush v. Gore, effectively resolving the presidential election in favor of Republican candidate George W. Bush over Democratic contender Vice President Al Gore. The case, centered on contested vote recounts in Florida, marked an unprecedented moment in American legal and political history—one…

  • ‘A Living Hell’: How Robin Givens Took On Mike Tyson In One of Hollywood’s Most Explosive Divorce Battles

    This legal case study uses the IRAC method—Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion—to analyze the high-profile and controversial legal battle between boxing champion Mike Tyson and actress Robin Givens. The case, which unfolded in the late 1980s, involved allegations of abuse, defamation, and intense media scrutiny, culminating in one of Hollywood’s most sensational divorce proceedings. Through…

  • Loving v. Virginia: The Real-Life Love Story That Ended Bans On Interracial Marriage In America

    In the early morning hours of July 11, 1958, sheriff’s deputies stormed into the home of Mildred and Richard Loving in Central Point, Virginia. Their crime? Being married. The Lovings, a Black woman and a white man, had traveled to Washington, D.C. to legally wed but returned to Virginia, where interracial marriage was still a…

  • CASE STUDY | How a High-Priced Prostitution Ring Took Down Eliot Spitzer’s Political Career

    Eliot Spitzer was once considered one of the brightest stars in American politics. As New York Attorney General, he earned the nickname “Sheriff of Wall Street” for taking on financial giants in high-profile white-collar crime cases. His populist image and aggressive legal style made him a favorite among progressives and legal reformers alike. But in…

  • CASE STUDY | Tragedy, Technology & the Law: The Fatal Cybertruck Crash That Sparked a Major Lawsuit Against Tesla

    In August 2024, what began as a late-night drive in Baytown, Texas, turned into a heartbreaking tragedy that’s now the subject of national headlines—and a potential landmark lawsuit. Michael Sheehan, a Texas man driving a Tesla Cybertruck, was killed after his vehicle veered off the road, struck a culvert, and burst into flames. The lawsuit…

  • Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): The Case That Forged Federal Supremacy Over Interstate Commerce

    Introduction Often described as a cornerstone of American constitutional law, Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) established the federal government’s broad authority over interstate commerce, shaping the balance of power between state and federal governments. Argued before the U.S. Supreme Court at a time when America was still in its infancy, the case pitted two steamboat operators—and,…

  • One Man, No Lawyer, Big Change: How Gideon v. Wainwright Rewrote the Rules of Justice

    Case Study: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) — Expanding the Right to Counsel in State Criminal Trials Introduction In the pantheon of landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Gideon v. Wainwright stands as a powerful affirmation of due process and equal protection under the law. Decided in 1963, the ruling cemented the principle that the Sixth Amendment’s…

  • Did the Boston Strangler Get It Wrong? A Murderer’s Confession, DNA Twists, and a Case That Still Haunts Justice

    The Boston Strangler case has haunted American criminal justice history for over half a century. Between 1962 and 1964, thirteen women in the Boston area were murdered in chillingly similar circumstances . They were all sexually assaulted, strangled, and often left posed in their homes. The city spiraled into fear. Women double-locked doors and carried…