Study Guide For United States Supreme Court Lawrence Texas Course Hero Study

In 1998, John Lawrence and Tyron Garner were arrested for engaging in consensual sexual activity in their own home. The police had been called to the home by a neighbor who reported seeing the two men kissing through a window. Lawrence and Garner were charged with violating a Texas law that criminalized "deviate sexual intercourse," which was defined as any sexual activity between two people of the same sex.

Lawrence and Garner challenged the law, arguing that it violated their right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The case made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Lawrence and Garner in a 6-3 decision.

The Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas turned on two main legal issues:

Study Guide for United States Supreme Court's Lawrence v. Texas (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Mark Mulle

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1292 KB
Print length	:	27 pages
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• Due Process Clause: The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment protects individuals from government actions that deprive them of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. In Lawrence, the Court ruled that the Texas law criminalizing homosexual sodomy violated the Due Process Clause because it deprived Lawrence and Garner of their liberty interest in engaging in private, consensual sexual activity.
• Equal Protection Clause: The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. In Lawrence, the Court ruled that the Texas law criminalizing homosexual sodomy violated the Equal Protection Clause because it discriminated against homosexuals by criminalizing their sexual activity while not criminalizing similar activity between heterosexuals.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lawrence and Garner. The Court held that the Texas law criminalizing homosexual sodomy violated the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Court's decision was a major victory for LGBT rights in the United States. It overturned a number of state laws that criminalized homosexual sodomy, and it established a constitutional right to privacy for LGBT individuals.

Lawrence v. Texas is a landmark Supreme Court case that has had a significant impact on LGBT rights in the United States. The Court's decision has been cited in numerous subsequent cases that have expanded the rights of LGBT individuals, and it has helped to create a more just and equitable society for all Americans.

Here are some of the key takeaways from Lawrence v. Texas:

• The Due Process Clause protects individuals from government actions that deprive them of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
• The Equal Protection Clause prohibits states from denying any person within their jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
• LGBT individuals have a constitutional right to privacy, which includes the right to engage in private, consensual sexual activity.
• The Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas was a major victory for LGBT rights in the United States.

Study Guide for United States Supreme Court's Lawrence v. Texas (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Mark Mulle

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1292 KB
Print length	:	27 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE