Court Review: Volume 42, Issue 2 - Recent Civil Decisions of the United States Supreme Court: The 2004-2005 Term

As I noted in reviewing the past term’s criminal decisions, what turned out to be the final year for the Rehnquist Court produced no blockbuster rulings. Nonetheless, there were several civil decisions of note. The Court’s 5-4 ruling upholding the taking of private property for economic development purposes and two First Amendment cases involving public display of the Ten Commandments in a courthouse and in a school were among those receiving the most public attention.