The Court and Gender: Civic and Social Rights Gateway
FindLaw Internet Legal Resources: Minor v. Happersett (1875) (voting)
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=case&court=us&vol=88&invol=162
This website is an excellent vehicle for high school students to investigate "The Court and Gender" using U.S. Supreme Court cases, such as, Minor v. Happersett. This case uses the Fourteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution as the basis for the argument, whether Mrs. Minor should be allowed to register to vote. Using primary source legal texts, students will be able to examine the exacting, interesting and extensive attention to detail, court procedures. These procedures will empower students to develop an understanding of the thinking processes of the Court's dealing with gender cases in the late 1800s. This understanding will provide a basis for students' research on this topic, "The Court and Gender", as well as a springboard for a lively class discussion or debate. Using the primary sources will help stimulate students' critical thinking skills.
Since this website is designed for legal professionals, the language and attention to detail will challenge high school students. But the value of the information provided on this website far outweighs the challenge of language and detail. The site does not provide lesson plans or any other teacher-friendly materials or links. However, the importance of the primary sources will override the desire for teacher materials.
FindLaw Internet Legal Resources: Roberts v. United States Jaycees (voting)
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=468&invol=609
This site describes this 1984 case, in which the Jaycees claimed that they were being discriminated against by being required to allow women to become voting members. The Supreme Court decided that the Jaycees' claim was without merit and that women should continue to be allowed full membership in the non-profit organization. This site is thorough and presents all opinions and arguments of the Supreme Court. It is an interesting site for teachers and students who are researching cases dealing with gender issues. High school students may need help with some of the legal vocabulary.
Oyez U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia: Heckler v. Matthews (Social Security benefits)
http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/160/
This OYEZ sited case involves gender discrimination in regard to Social Security benefits. Oyez's original founders envisioned this project as the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court." With the help of Richard Barone of Northwestern's Learning Technologies Group, Oyez has become a multimedia website including case files ranging in subject from civil rights to criminal procedure. The file includes an abstract or overview that includes dates, the question at hand and its conclusion. Each file includes a printer-friendly version of the abstract and more recent files offer audio clips of the oral argument and a list of resources. The site makes learning student-friendly by providing quiz questions relating the lives of baseball stars to those of Supreme Court justices. Oyez is useful for grades 7-12 as its abstracts are written in simplified language and can be used in American History as well as Civics and Government classes.
This site would be excellent for classes in constitutional law, participation in government, and American History. Middle school American History students may have difficulty with reading level.
J.E.B. v. Alabama ex rel T.B. (jury selection)
http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/628/
This particular case involves sex discrimination in regard to jury selection. In forming the jury for a child support case, the lawyers for the mother used their peremptory strikes to eliminate nine of the ten men who were in the jury pool. Information includes abstract, participants, resources, audio, and a printer-friendly summary. Like the previous site listed, this site has all the same bells and whistles.
Rostker v. Goldberg (1981) (military draft)
http://www.oyez.org/oyez/resource/case/336/
This OYEZ sited case offers an abstract of the Rostker v. Goldberg case, in which a number of men challenged the constitutionality of only men being required to register for the military draft. The Supreme Court upheld the men-only policy. Like the previous sites listed, this site has all the same bells and whistles.