City of Grants Pass v. Johnson (2024)

City of Grants Pass v. Johnson was a SCOTUS in the Classroom case. It was decided on June 28, 2024.

This case will decide whether city ordinances regulating camping, and designed to dissuade people experiencing homelessness from sleeping in public parks, violate the Eighth Amendment’s protection from cruel and unusual punishment.

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:

Is the enforcement of laws regulating camping on public property prohibited by the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause of the Eighth Amendment?

Case Briefs:

• Brief of Petitioner: City of Grants Pass, Oregon 
• Brief of Respondents: Gloria Johnson

Oral Argument:

• Audio recording and transcript of the oral argument from the Supreme Court

Decision:

• Link to the opinion of the Court

News Articles and Resources:

• Oregon Public Broadcasting: “Grants Pass v. Johnson: Here’s what led to key homelessness case before high court,” (April 4, 2024)
• ABA Journal: “Chemerinsky: Will SCOTUS consider it cruel and unusual punishment to prosecute homeless people for sleeping in public?” (April 15, 2024)
• Jefferson Public Radio: “Five things to know about the Grants Pass homelessness case before the US Supreme Court,” (April 14, 2024)
• SCOTUSblog: “Justices take up camping ban case” (January 12, 2024)

How to Conduct a Moot Court or a Mini-Moot Court: 

• Classroom Guide to Moot Courts 
• Mini-Moot Courts Resource Bundle and Video