Chapters 2 and 3 break down the federal courts and the state court systems. These court systems operate side by side based on the practice of federalism. Federalism is when power is shared between the federal government and the state governments. This confuses some people because in criminal law a case can be filed in the federal courts and/or state courts depending on the details of the case.
Rodney King was an individual beaten by police officers in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. There was a state criminal case against the officers who assaulted Rodney King and a federal case against the officers as well. George Floyd was an individual killed by a police officers in 2020. There were state criminal cases against the officers who murdered George Floyd and federal cases against the officers as well. The documentary below gives some insight into the Rodney King assault.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaotkHlHJwo&t=445sLinks to an external site.
Do your own additional research on both cases to learn about all the details involved.
Need to answer all the questions for both Rodney King and George Floyd
Rodney King George Floyd
Briefly discuss the incident between the police and the victim in this case.
What were the state charges against the officer(s)?
How was state case settled (trial or plea bargain)?
If there was a state court jury trial, discuss the demographics of the jury.
What was the outcome of the state case?
What are your thoughts about the outcome in each state case?
What were the federal charges against the officer(s)?
How was federal case settled (trial or plea bargain)?
If there was a federal court jury trial, discuss the demographics of the jury.
What was the outcome of the federal cases?
What are your thoughts about the outcome in each federal case?
Discuss the similarities between these two cases over 20 years apart.
Discuss the differences between these two cases over 20 years apart.
Make sure to:
- Answer all questions asked in the chart above.
- Remember to cite your sources.