CASE WERE BRIEFING IS Rael v. Cadena

1. Choose one of the Supreme Court decisions below, i.e., "Court Cases to Brief." or you may use this caseRael v. Cadena

Once you are at the Google Scholar cite, and before you search for anything, select the radio button (on the right, under the search box) marked "Case Law." Click on the hyperlink marked "Select Courts." On the next screen, select "Supreme Court" (at the top of the third column of options). Click "Done" at the top of the page. You will be returned to the search page. Type the name of your case into the box and run your search.

4. Read your case.

Supreme Court decisions can be challenging to read, but for this assignment, you only need to focus on one case. Typically, the case will start with a brief summary or syllabus, followed by the full opinion. Pay close attention to the summary, as it usually outlines the important facts of the casewho was involved, what crime was committed, the trial outcome, and what happened in lower courts. After the facts, you'll find the "issue," which is the legal question the Court is answering. The Court often responds to the issue right away. Look for the holding, which is the Court's decision on the issue. This is the most important part of the case because it sets the legal precedent for future cases. Sometimes, the Court will clearly state the holding, but other times, you may have to infer it from the opinion.

The Supreme Court needs at least five Justices to agree on a decision. Some Justices may agree with the decision but for different reasons, which results in concurring opinions. Justices who disagree write dissenting opinions, which don't carry any legal weight at the time but may influence future cases. For your assignment, focus only on the main opinion, and skip concurring or dissenting opinions.

For this assignment, you should concentrate on the main opinion issued by the court. You do not have to read or brief concurring or dissenting opinions.

5. Brief the Case.A case brief is a summary of the case that highlights the key details. Your goal is to write a brief that explains the case to other students who haven't read it. Your brief should cover what happened in the case, how the Court ruled, and what the ruling means for Constitutional law in the United States. Use plain language, and avoid complex legal jargon. However, when discussing the holding (the Court's decision), try to use the Court's exact wording as much as possible.

Here is the format for your finished brief

Structure of Your Brief:

• Facts: Include only the facts necessary to tell a clear story and explain how they led to the Court's decision.
• Issue: State the legal question the Court is addressing.
• Rule of Law: Describe the law that existed before this case and how the Court applied it.
• Holding: Explain the Court's final decision on the issue. This is the most important part of your brief because it shows how the law has changed.
• Analysis: Summarize the Court's reasoning for its decision. You should also give your opinion on the decision here.