Question

Select all the correct answers.

Which three statements describe Supreme Court decisions under Chief Justice Earl Warren?

Answer 1

The Warren Court's decisions under Chief Justice Earl Warren reflected the liberal climate of the Johnson era, expanding civil rights and civil liberties in alignment with social reforms. Landmark rulings like Brown v. Board of Education and Mapp v. Ohio are examples of the court's judicial activism during this time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The decisions of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren were reflective of the liberal political climate during the Johnson administration. The Warren Court made landmark decisions that expanded civil rights and civil liberties, aligning with the era's push for social reforms. For example, decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education ended racial segregation in public schools. The court also supported the First Amendment by ruling against the promotion of religion in schools (e.g., Abington School District v. Schempp and Engel v. Vitale). Additionally, it strengthened rights for individuals accused of crimes, as in the case of Mapp v. Ohio, which protected individuals from illegally obtained evidence being used in court.

This period of judicial decision-making is often described as an instance of judicial activism, where the court took an active role in changing policies to protect civil rights and liberties when the legislature was unable to do so. Many of these decisions remain controversial, illustrating the court's willingness to make choices that were not universally popular but which had a significant and lasting impact on American society.

Answer 2

The Warren Court made decisions that expanded civil rights and liberties, aligned with liberal political climates, and used judicial review to institute policy, with long-lasting impacts on American society.

Step-by-step explanation:

The decisions of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren were monumental in shaping American civil rights and liberties. During the era of Chief Justice Warren, landmark cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, and Cooper v. Aaron signaled a significant shift toward judicial activism and the protection of individual rights. Three statements that accurately describe the Supreme Court decisions under Chief Justice Earl Warren are:

• The Warren Court made decisions that were reflective of the dominant political climate of the time, including supporting civil rights movements and aligning with the liberal reforms of President Johnson's Great Society.
• This period saw the Supreme Court actively using its powers of judicial review to institute policy relating to civil rights and civil liberties when the legislature was unable or unwilling to act.
• The decisions of the Warren Court were sometimes divisive, given the contentious nature of civil rights issues during the 1950s and 1960s, yet proved to be a driving force for change and progress in these areas.

Notably, the effect of the Warren Court's decisions on modern American society remains profound, with essential expansions in areas such as the rights of the accused and freedom from state-imposed religious practices.