G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Ser. : The Major Cases and Decisions of 2008

In 2008, the United States Supreme Court ruled on some of the most controversial topics in American history, including gun control, the death penalty, and habeas corpus.The Washington Post Supreme Court Year in Review 2009features complete coverage of these important cases fromThe Washington Post’slegal desk, the pre-eminent source for Supreme Court reporting.The Washington Post’sjournalists clarify how these decisions affect each of us as well as the legal system of our country. Some of the cases touched on in this annual review include landmark decisions such asDistrict of Columbia v. Heller. In this finding, the high court for the first time declared that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to gun ownership. This caused ripples throughout the nation, primarily for large cities with handgun bans. Another case the nation was watching wasBaze v. Rees. In this situation, the court declined to review the appeals of death row inmates who had challenged lethal-injection methods in nearly one dozen states. The justices ruled that the method does not carry so great a risk of pain that it violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The war on terror and the detainees in Guantanamo Bay came to the forefront inBoumediene v. Bush. The Supreme Court Justices determined that terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay have the right to seek their release in federal court, giving the prisoners the right to protest confinement before an independent judge. It was the first ruling in history that gave non-citizens of the United States rights under the Constitution when detained in another country. Voter fraud was addressed inCrawford v. Marion County Election Board. The court ruled that an Indiana law requiring specific government-issued identification such as driver’s licenses or passports to cast voter ballots was not enough of a burden to violate the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. The ruling stated that the state law is a reasonable response to the threat of voter fraud. continued on back flap These are just some of the important cases covered inThe Washington PostSupreme Court Year in Review 2009. Whether you are interested in personal freedom, Constitutional law, or legal decisions that directly affect business or politics, this authoritative review gives a complete picture of how each case affects America, transcending the original parties named in the suit.   The U.S. Supreme Court decides all of the controversial issues that impact our society. From the historicRoe v. Wadedecision still debated today to a 2008 decision that declared that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to gun ownership, these seven people hold the fate of the United States in their hands.   The Washington Postis one of the most recognized news organizations in the world. A premier source of news on American government,The Postis also one of the most widely respected news authorities on the U.S. Supreme Court. A division of The Washington Post Company, it is one of the most lauded newspapers in the United States, winning six Pulitzer Prizes in 2008 alone