memorization... how do you do it?

justin22g

WAR EAGLE!
Forum Member
Sep 8, 2005
1,809
1
0
Birmingham, AL
I've got to know 55 supreme court cases, how the court ruled, and why. Plus, I've got to know what topic these fall in, ie wiretapping, exceptions to warrant requirement, 4th amendment for a mobile society.. etc.

I have been studying my ass off... or memorizing my ass off, and I am having trouble. I know there is a technique that would fit me... but i'm not finding it.

help me out... i know most of you don't have to worry about this shit anymore... you're lucky!
 

justin22g

WAR EAGLE!
Forum Member
Sep 8, 2005
1,809
1
0
Birmingham, AL
man... it would be easy if it was multiple choice... but its not.

hes going to have an essay... and a shit ton of short answer.

none of the cases will be listed, so i've got to know everything. I've already found a good outline... =]

i'm headin to the library...

you're lucky man! i'm headin to law school after i graduate... so i've got 3 more years of bullshit
 

Mr. Poon

Sugar?
Forum Member
Jan 14, 2006
13,160
209
0
Colorado
Sounds juvenile but try Flash Cards. Get some basic note cards. Put the case name on the blank side, and list all the details on the opposite lined side.
 

bjfinste

Registered User
Forum Member
Mar 14, 2001
5,462
18
0
AZ
Primary name of case, one sentence holding. Flashcards if needed.

For example:

Roe v. Wade: Roe, Liberty clause of 14th gives fundamental right to privacy regarding reproductive choices up to viability

Ring v. Ariz: Ring, jury must find agg/mit factors in captial cases

Marbury v. Madison: Marbury, judicial branch says what law is by standard of judicial review

... and so forth

Based on the info in your post, it's an undergrad exam and you aren't in law school yet. If that's true, then that info should be enough.
 

justin22g

WAR EAGLE!
Forum Member
Sep 8, 2005
1,809
1
0
Birmingham, AL
I think i've got it. 45 min at the library.

I memorized the cases under the category they fall under...

theories of incorporation
requirements for issuing warrants and reasonable searches and seizures
exceptions to the warrant requirement
the unique 4th amendment problems of a mobile society
administrative searches
wiretapping and police surveillance
Exclusionary rule
Coerced confessions and police interrogation
real v. testimonial evidence.

Here's an example of what i have to know

Minnesota v. Dickerson, reversed, regarding a terry stop. the plain feel rule is not unlimited. An officer can lift non-threatening contraband only if it is immediately apparent what it is.

Katz v US is going to be big regarding the Katz test. I believe the essay I've got to do is going to be something like this... list the cases where the katz test was applied.

bjfinste... you seem like you know what you're talking about... lil help here

the katz test pretty much states, 1. reasonable expectation of privacy 2. is society ready to recognize this privacy. What does "is society ready to recognize this privacy exactly mean?

Because I know in oliver v us, it created the open fields doctrine. applied the katz test and said open fields are not protected to a right of privacy, even if you have trespassing signs up. same w/ california v ciraolo and california v greenwood.


One case I do not understand is Minnesota v Carter. the court pretty much states non-overnight guests do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. this doesn't make sense to me. What in the hell difference does it make if you stay over night or not? I guess I should read the majority opinion for that....

and griswold v connecticut is the landmark case stating privacy is included in the constitution under the 9th and due process clause of the 14th.

gettign some studying in on madjacks =]
 

bjfinste

Registered User
Forum Member
Mar 14, 2001
5,462
18
0
AZ
MN v. Dickerson: right on. Terry frisks are for protective purposes and can't be extended to seize evidence. i.e. once you realize it's not a gun, you can't keep groping

Here are my notes on Katz from my Criminal Procedure outline:

- Katz. V. US, 1967 (37)
o Wiretapping/phonebooth case
o Held: it is a search, no warrant, so not admissible
o Harlan?s concurrence (p.40) is what is important
 4th applies to people, not places
- Two-Prong test from Katz (Harlan?s concurrence)
o Gov conduct must offend the citizen?s subjective manifestation of a privacy interest
 This has to be satisfied for the 4th to apply
o Privacy interest invaded must be on that society accepts as reasonable or legit
- Abandonment of property loses privacy interest (US v. Hoey, 8th Circuit)
o Denial of ownership to cops often = abandonment (US v. McDonald, 7th Cir)

The "society" standard is flexible and as far as I know (and I've dealt extensively with 4th Amendment issues), there is no bright line rule. It simply comes down to something the court regards as reasonable or not.

US v. Dunn expanded on the Open Fields Doctrine dealing with curtilage, creating four factors:

o Four Factors to determine what is curtilage (which is protected by 4th)
 Proximity of the claimed area to the home
 If the area is included with an enclosure surrounding the home
 The nature of uses to which the area is put
 The steps taken by the resident to protect the area from observation by people passing by

These are additional cases that deal with Katz:

- US v. White, 1971 (49)
o If a friend comes over and wears a wire and records your convo, that is a risk you take when you invite him over
- Financial Records: CA Banks Association v. Schulz, 1974 (50)
o If a bank has access to your information, there isn?t an expectation of privacy
- Pen Registers: Smith v. Maryland, 1979 (51)
o When you dial a number, you voluntarily convey the number to the phone company, so no EofP
- Electronic Pagers
o US v. Meriwether (6th)
 Not a search b/c you disclose that info to a member of the public when you page someone
o US v. Chan (ND of CA)
 Can?t get numbers from a turned off pager
? Turning it on is a search
? Possessor of pager has control over the stored info
- Trash: CA v. Greenwood
o Trash on the street can be gone through by any member of the public, so no EofP
o US v. White (8th Cir): Not a search when cop looks through gap between bathroom stall wall and door
 Design of stall allows cop to make her observations without placing herself in any position that would be unexpected by the stall occupant
- Aerial Surveillance
o CA v. Criaolo
 Aerial view of a fenced in backyard that had weed in it
 Allowed b/c even though person made an attempt to restrict view, the cop?s vantage point was public and in a place he had a right to be
o Florida v Riley
 O'Connor Concurrence
? Possibility v. Probability
o EX is to show whether the public ordinarily had access to that view
o Burden is on party seeking to suppress
o Needs to show on record that public did not ordinarily have access to helicopter view from 400 feet above the land

Minnesota v. Olsen held that overnight guests ARE covered by the fourth amendment b/c they have an expectation of privacy since they are using that place as their domicile for the night. However...

Minnesota v. Carter held that a guest that is a non-overnight guest does NOT have an expectation of privacy. Even if the cops don't find what they are looking for but find other evidence that belongs to the actual dweller.

And yes, Roe was built off the privacy holdings of the birth control case of Griswold.
 

marine

poker brat
Forum Member
Jul 13, 1999
3,867
73
48
50
Fort Worth, TX
How much time do you have before you have to brain dump all this info on a test?

if you've got a lil bit of time, start with like 5 cases a day. repeat them over and over again out loud. write them down on a piece of paper, and say them again out loud.
then the next day add 5 more. do the first five, then do five more.
speak them and repeat them constantly.

Looking at them on a sheet of paper and nodding that you got it is not going to work.
Write them, speak them.

Write them in different ways too. write categories on top and then just list the court cases underneath... then do the details of it another day.

If I learned anything being a midshipmen, it was how to memorize large quantities of information quickly.
 

marine

poker brat
Forum Member
Jul 13, 1999
3,867
73
48
50
Fort Worth, TX
why isn't he a game show champion :shrug:

agent would be :shrug:

That's what I thought too.. but I think he can only recall events that are specific to HIS life... things that HE experienced. Or something that happened on a day that something happened to him. he might not know the king of england in 1405, but he would know the temperature in scotland on his 11th birthday or something.

jeopardy questions aren't phrased right for him I spose.
 

justin22g

WAR EAGLE!
Forum Member
Sep 8, 2005
1,809
1
0
Birmingham, AL
I think i've got it... I can whiz through and wwrite down all the cases under their category. I am having trouble remembering how the court ruled, but who gives a shit? The midterm is tomorrow and friday, so I think i should be ok.

I appreciate it bjfinste.. Are you in law school or already have your JD?
 
Last edited:

justin22g

WAR EAGLE!
Forum Member
Sep 8, 2005
1,809
1
0
Birmingham, AL
In my fourth semester.... two more to go.

sounds good man.. good luck! one of my friends started the bar yesterday...


I might need some help on hearsay and all the exceptions in the next coming weeks. My teacher is kind of confusing when he is explaining it. I guess I should go buy the book :shrug:

As for the cases... I know them all. I have written them down about 50 times... so I should be good to go tomorrow morning. I'm gonna wake up around 6 or so and write them down some more.

Once again, I appreciate your help!
 

escarzamd

...abides.
Forum Member
Dec 26, 2003
1,266
1
0
56
5ft, pin high......
As silly as it sounds........how much do you read in the shitter? If you post the pertinent info graffitti-style on the wall in front of the hopper, you can't help but read it. If you eat crappy food, you could be reviewing it three-four times/day:mj07: JK, it did help me get thru plenty of classes

How many of you guys can't remember dinky-doo about some college class, but remember with some clarity all the stupid shit you read in some bathroom:shrug:

Also, the added effect of reproducing the environment for test time applies.........if you don't remember it, you're in a world of shit:rimshot

GL......D:SIB C
 

just cover

Cub Fan
Forum Member
Oct 10, 2001
1,175
2
0
57
Normal, Ill
I don't know if this is believable or not but a friend who was studying for some class to be a doc- swore by it. He would record what he was studying for on a tape and play it when he slept. Something about the sub-conscious. I know it sounds crazy but he said it helped him. I called BS but he is a foot doc out in California now.

good luck

jc
 
Bet on MyBookie
Top