Select a criminal law case from the Opinions of the Court page of the U.S. Supreme Court website.
Create a 10- to 12-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation (excluding the title, introductory and reference slides from the total number of slides required), with speaker notes, in which you address the following:
Summarize the case.
Who were the main parties in the case?
What were the charges?
What defense was used? Refer to Ch. 6 of Essential Criminal Law for possible defenses.
What was the decision?
Identify the functions and effects of criminal law in modern society reflected in the case you selected.
What function did the law serve in the case?
What effect did the law have in the case?
Cite all sources used according to APA guidelines.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Persuasive Essay on the Case of Miranda v. Arizona
Introduction
In the landmark case of Miranda v. Arizona, the United States Supreme Court made a significant ruling that has had a lasting impact on criminal law and the protection of individual rights in the United States. This case not only highlighted the importance of due process and the rights of the accused but also underscored the critical role of the legal system in safeguarding these fundamental liberties.
Case Summary
Miranda v. Arizona was a case that involved Ernesto Miranda, a man who was arrested and charged with kidnapping and rape in Phoenix, Arizona. During the police interrogation, Miranda confessed to the crimes without being informed of his constitutional rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present. These confessions were crucial evidence used against him in court.
Main Parties and Charges
The main parties in the case were Ernesto Miranda, the defendant, and the state of Arizona, the prosecution. Miranda was charged with kidnapping and rape based on his own confession during police interrogation.
Defense Used
In the case of Miranda v. Arizona, the defense argued that Miranda’s confession should be excluded from evidence because it was obtained in violation of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The defense contended that Miranda was not informed of his rights before confessing, rendering the confession involuntary and inadmissible in court.
Decision
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Miranda, holding that the confession obtained during police interrogation was inadmissible as evidence because Miranda had not been informed of his constitutional rights. This decision led to the establishment of the now-famous “Miranda rights,” which require law enforcement officials to inform suspects of their rights before conducting custodial interrogations.
Functions and Effects of Criminal Law
The case of Miranda v. Arizona exemplifies the functions and effects of criminal law in modern society. The law served the function of protecting individual rights and ensuring that due process is followed in criminal proceedings. By requiring law enforcement to inform suspects of their rights, the law helps prevent coerced confessions and safeguards against violations of constitutional protections.
The effect of the law in this case was profound, as it established a precedent that has shaped criminal procedure in the United States for decades. The decision in Miranda v. Arizona has had a lasting impact on how law enforcement conducts interrogations and how courts handle confessions, ensuring that individuals are afforded their constitutional rights even in the face of criminal charges.
In conclusion, the case of Miranda v. Arizona stands as a testament to the vital role of criminal law in upholding justice and protecting individual liberties. By recognizing and enforcing fundamental rights such as the right to remain silent and the right to counsel, this case has left a lasting legacy that continues to shape the criminal justice system in America today.
References
– Supreme Court of the United States. (1966). Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436.
– LaFave, W., Israel, J., & King, N. (2017). Essential Criminal Law (2nd ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Presentation:
Slide 1: Title
Miranda v. Arizona: Upholding Constitutional Rights
Slide 2: Introduction
– Brief overview of the case
– Significance of the Miranda v. Arizona ruling
Slide 3: Case Summary
– Ernesto Miranda’s arrest and confession
– Lack of informing Miranda of his rights
– Use of confession as evidence
Slide 4: Main Parties
– Ernesto Miranda: Defendant
– State of Arizona: Prosecution
Slide 5: Charges
– Kidnapping and rape based on Miranda’s confession
Slide 6: Defense Used
– Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination
– Involuntary confession due to lack of informing Miranda of his rights
Slide 7: The Decision
– Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in favor of Miranda
– Inadmissibility of the confession as evidence
Slide 8: Functions of Criminal Law
– Protecting individual rights
– Ensuring due process in criminal proceedings
Slide 9: Effects of Criminal Law
– Establishment of “Miranda rights”
– Prevention of coerced confessions and protection of constitutional protections
Slide 10: Law’s Function in the Case
– Safeguarding constitutional rights of the accused
– Upholding the principle of due process
Slide 11: Law’s Effect in the Case
– Setting a precedent for informed interrogations
– Shaping criminal procedure and protecting individual liberties
Slide 12: References
– Supreme Court of the United States. (1966). Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436.
– LaFave, W., Israel, J., & King, N. (2017). Essential Criminal Law (2nd ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
Incorporate visuals, bullet points, and concise text to enhance the presentation’s clarity and effectiveness in delivering key information about the case of Miranda v. Arizona.
