LSTD 503 Week two assignment: Supreme Court Essay

Introduction to LSTD 503 Week Two Assignment

The LSTD 503 Week Two Assignment: Supreme Court Essay requires you to select a Supreme Court case related to the criminal justice process, research it thoroughly, and write an essay detailing various aspects of the case. This How-To LSTD 503 Guide aims to deepen your understanding of the criminal justice system and its interaction with the Supreme Court by analyzing a significant legal decision. Your essay should be well-structured, properly cited, and demonstrate critical analysis of the case.

The following presentation will help you complete the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) case essay assignment. Choose a SCOTUS case that interests you. You may choose any case on a criminal justice process topic heard by the SCOTUS to research and write an essay about it.

Choosing a SCOTUS Case

To start LSTD 503 Week Two Assignment: Supreme Court Essay for the Criminal Justice Process, we will first choose the United States Supreme Court.

• Select a Supreme Court case that piques your interest and is relevant to criminal justice.
• Ensure that the case is not one you have previously used in another class.
• Look for cases that have significant legal or societal implications.

Example

The case “Thornell v. Jones” was heard by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) during the 2023-2024 term, with the decision delivered on June 6, 2024. The parties involved were Mark Thornell, the petitioner, and Kevin Jones, the respondent (THORNELL v. JONES, 2023). This case revolves around the procedural requirements and standards for prisoners challenging their convictions or sentences on grounds such as ineffective assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment.

Research the details about the case (answer the five research questions: Who, What, When, Where, and Why). Take notes about what you discover. Note the sources of your information. You must list your sources at the end of the essay in Bluebook citation format, proper footnotes throughout the essay, and properly cite the sources of each piece of information in the essay itself.

Researching the Case

Here, we will now research the case we selected.

• Answer the five essential research questions: Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
• Take comprehensive notes on the case details, including the parties involved, the controversy, court proceedings, and the final ruling.
• Keep a record of all your sources so that you can cite them properly in Bluebook format.

After researching a case, organize the information you have collected by outlining. A basic structure for organizing your information.

Organizing Information and Creating an Outline

In this section, we will organize the information gathered from research and create the essay’s outline.

Introduction

• Identify the name of the case and the date the Supreme Court heard it.
• Mention the parties involved.
• Provide a brief overview of the case’s focus.

Description of the Case

• Explain the controversy at the heart of the case.

Case’s Journey through the Courts

• Identify the court that had original jurisdiction.
• Summarize the rulings of previous courts before the case reached SCOTUS.

SCOTUS Ruling

• Describe the majority opinion and its arguments.
• Outline the minority opinion and its arguments.

Reasoning Behind SCOTUS Decision

• Analyze the rationale used by the Supreme Court to arrive at its decision.

Conclusion: Impact of the Court’s Ruling

• Discuss how the ruling affects Americans today.
• Examine if the verdict has influenced other cases or the interpretation and enforcement of laws.
• Reflect on any personal connections to the case, if applicable.

Example

Description of the Case

The central controversy in “Thornell v. Jones” concerns the procedural hurdles that prisoners must overcome when alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. Thornell argued that the procedural requirements imposed by the state courts, which demanded a high threshold of evidence and specific procedural filings, violated his constitutional right to a fair trial and effective legal representation.

Case’s Journey Through The Courts

The original jurisdiction in this case was held by an Arizona state trial court, where Thornell’s conviction was initially upheld despite his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. Thornell appealed to the Arizona Court of Appeals, which affirmed his conviction (THORNELL v. JONES, 2023). His case then moved to the Arizona Supreme Court, which denied relief. Following this, Thornell petitioned for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the state court’s application of procedural rules was inconsistent with federal constitutional standards, particularly under the Sixth Amendment and the precedent set by Strickland v. Washington.

SCOTUS Ruling

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jones, the respondent, affirming the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision. Justice Kavanaugh’s majority opinion held that the procedural requirements set by the state courts were reasonable and did not violate Thornell’s constitutional rights. The Court emphasized the importance of maintaining procedural integrity and consistency within the state’s judicial system, finding that Arizona’s procedural rules were not fundamentally unfair.

The minority opinion, however, argued that the procedural hurdles imposed by the state courts were excessively stringent and effectively denied Thornell his constitutional right to effective counsel. The dissenting justices, led by Justice Sotomayor, highlighted the potential for miscarriages of justice if procedural barriers are too high, particularly in cases involving allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Reasoning Behind SCOTUS Decision

The rationale behind the Supreme Court’s decision was grounded in the principle of federalism and the respect for state courts’ autonomy in establishing procedural rules. The majority held that while federal courts have a role in ensuring constitutional protections, they should not unduly interfere with state procedural rules unless they are fundamentally unfair. The Court found that Arizona’s procedural requirements did not reach the level of unfairness that would warrant federal intervention, particularly given the state’s interest in finality and procedural efficiency in post-conviction relief cases.

Impact of the Court’s Ruling

The ruling in “Thornell v. Jones” has significant implications for the American judicial system, particularly in post-conviction relief. The decision reinforces the authority of state courts to set procedural rules and underscores the importance of procedural consistency. However, it also raises concerns about access to justice and the potential for procedural barriers to hinder legitimate claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.

The ruling may influence future cases by setting a precedent for the level of deference federal courts should give to state procedural rules. It may also impact how lower courts interpret and apply procedural requirements in post-conviction cases. For individuals like Thornell, the decision underscores the challenges prisoners face in navigating the complex landscape of post-conviction relief.

Write your essay. If you organized your information based on the suggested outline, you have to write down what you have learned from your research and put it into a two- to three-page essay. Your first paragraph is the introduction (the information under letter A of your outline). The second paragraph contains information under the letter B, and so on.

Writing the Essay

Here, we will now follow the above outline and write the essay.

• Follow the structure of your outline to write the essay.
• Ensure each section of your essay corresponds to the points in your outline.
• Maintain a clear, logical flow of information.
• Use formal, academic language while making the content engaging and insightful.

Be sure to cite your sources using sequentially numbered footnotes. Any information you learned from another source, such as a website, a magazine article, a videotaped interview, etc., must be appropriately noted in your essay. Make sure you use footnotes in the proper BlueBook citation style. Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page, not at the end of the document (those are endnotes)

Citing Sources

We will also cite the resources we used in our research and essay.

• Use sequentially numbered footnotes to cite sources.
• Ensure all information from external sources is properly footnoted in Bluebook citation style.
• Include a list of sources at the end of your essay.

Closing 

Completing the LSTD 503 Week Two Assignment: Supreme Court Essay will enhance your understanding of the Supreme Court’s role in the criminal justice system and improve your research, writing, and analytical skills. By thoroughly researching a SCOTUS case, you will gain insights into the complexities of legal processes and the impact of judicial decisions on society. This How-To Owlisdom Guide will prepare you for more advanced studies and professional roles in criminal justice.

References

THORNELL v. JONES (SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 2023). https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-982_bq7d.pdf