Mexican Americans and the Law

The experience of Mexican Americansin the United States has been marked by oppression at the hands of the legal system--but it has also benefited from successful appeals to the same system. Mexican Americans and the Law illustrates how Mexican Americans have played crucial roles in mounting legal challenges regarding issues that directly affect their political, educational, and socioeconomic status.Each chapter highlights historical contexts, relevant laws, and policy concerns for a specific issue and features abridged versions of significant state and federal cases involving Mexican Americans. Beginning withPeople v. Zammora(1940), the trial that was a precursor to the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles during World War II, the authors lead students through some of the most important and precedent-setting cases in American law: Educational equality: from segregation concerns inMéndez v. Westminster(1946) to unequal funding inSan Antonio Independent School District vs. Rodríguez(1973) Gender issues: reproductive rights inMadrigal v. Quilligan(1981), workplace discrimination inEEOC v. Hacienda Hotel(1989), sexual violence inAguirre-Cervantes v. INS(2001) Language rights:Ýñiguez v. Arizonans for Official English(1995),García v. Gloor(1980),Serna v. Portales Municipal Schools(1974) Immigration-: search and seizure questions inU.S. v. Brignoni-Ponce(1975) andU.S. v. Martínez-Fuerte(1976); public benefits issues inPlyler v. Doe(1982) andLeague of United Latin American Citizens v. Wilson(1997) Voting rights: redistricting inWhite v. Regester(1973) andBush v. Vera(1996) Affirmative action:Hopwood v. State of Texas(1996) andCoalition for Economic Equity v. Wilson(1997) Criminal justice issues: equal protection inHernández v. Texas(1954); jury service inHernández v. New York(1991); self incrimination inMiranda v. Arizona(1966); access to legal counsel inEscobedo v. Illinois(1964)With coverage as timely as the 2003 Supreme Court decision on affirmative action,Mexican Americans and the Lawoffers invaluable insight into legal issues that have impacted Mexican Americans, other Latinos, other racial minorities, and all Americans. Discussion questions, suggested readings, and Internet sources help students better comprehend the intricacies of law.