Each term Street Law selects the most classroom-relevant, student-friendly cases as our SCOTUS in the Classroom cases. Teachers are encouraged to conduct moot courts the same week the case is argued, giving students the opportunity to follow discussion and analysis in the news and listen to or read a transcript of the actual oral arguments.
Case Issue:
If a police officer makes a traffic stop because of a mistaken interpretation of the law, is that stop unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment?
Case Briefs:
- Brief of Petitioner: Heien
- Brief of Respondent: North Carolina
- Amici: Both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Rutherford Institute filed amicus briefs in this case. These groups’ briefs are available on SCOTUSblog’s case page.
Oral Argument:
Decision:
How to Conduct a Moot Court or a Mini-Moot Court:
Since 1995, Street Law, Inc. has been developing curricular materials to help teach about modern and historic Supreme Court cases.
All Street Law Case Summaries include the following sections: case facts, issues, relevant constitutional provisions/statutes/precedents, arguments for each side, and the decision. They have been reviewed by both legal experts and educators and are ready for classroom use.