This activity is part of Module 9: The Judicial System and Current Cases from the Constitution 101 Curriculum.
The Supreme Court’s term typically lasts from the first Monday of October to the end of June.
Opinions are released throughout the term, with the last of the opinions (often on the most important and controversial cases) coming out at the end of June—although there’s no deadline because the justices set their own schedule.
In this activity, you will explore some of the most significant cases that the Supreme Court heard last term.
Review these three cases of the last Supreme Court term and write short briefs for each case. Use the questions below to help organize key details about each case.
- Case (1 of 3) - Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022)
- Facts: Who are all the people (parties) associated with the case? What was the dispute between them?
- Issue: What is the issue in the case? What constitutional provision is at issue? What is the constitutional question that needs to be answered?
- Ruling: How does the Court rule? What was the outcome in the case? Who won and who lost? How did the justices vote? What sort of rule does the Court come up with to resolve the issue?
- Who was the author of the majority opinion?
- Were there any concurring or dissenting opinions? Who authored them? What did they say? How would the justices who authored them have ruled in the case?
- Case (2 of 3) - Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022)
- Facts: Who are all the people (parties) associated with the case? What was the dispute between them?
- Issue: What is the issue in the case? What constitutional provision is at issue? What is the constitutional question that needs to be answered?
- Ruling: How does the Court rule? What was the outcome in the case? Who won and who lost? How did the justices vote? What sort of rule does the Court come up with to resolve the issue?
- Who was the author of the majority opinion?
- Were there any concurring or dissenting opinions? Who authored them? What did they say? How would the justices who authored them have ruled in the case?
- Case (3 of 3) - New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen (2022)
- Facts: Who are all the people (parties) associated with the case? What was the dispute between them?
- Issue: What is the issue in the case? What constitutional provision is at issue? What is the constitutional question that needs to be answered?
- Ruling: How does the Court rule? What was the outcome in the case? Who won and who lost? How did the justices vote? What sort of rule does the Court come up with to resolve the issue?
- Who was the author of the majority opinion?
- Were there any concurring or dissenting opinions? Who authored them? What did they say? How would the justices who authored them have ruled in the case?
