U.S.+v.+Morrison

Deanna R. David T. Matt A.

In 1994, at Virginia Tech., two varsity football players, Antonio Morrison and James Crawford, allegedly raped and sexually assaulted Christy Brzonkala. In 1995, Christy reported the rape and Morrison was immediately suspended for two semesters, even though Crawford was not punished. Morrison had appealed his sentence and it was then found that his punishment was to extreme, so Antonio also received no punishment. Because of this, Christy Brzonkala dropped out of the school and tried to sue Morrison, Crawford, and Virginia tech. in federal court. Her defense was that Virginia tech. violated the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. Morrison and Crawford then argued to dismiss the case saying that the act was unconstitutional.
 * __ U.S. v. Morrison __**
 * Backgrounds of the case:media type="custom" key="3568930" **

Does congress have the authority to enact the Violence Against Woman Act of 1994 under either the commerence clause of the fourteenth amendment?
 * Major issue discussed in case: **

In a five to four final vote, the decision was no, congress did not have the power to enact such an act. The impact of the decision of this case was merely that the Violence Against Women Act was undone. Congress then had to rewrite the Act and make it unconstitutional. [|U.S. Vs. Morrison Wordle] [|**Additional Info.**] [|Additional Info. 2!]
 * Dicision: **
 * Impact of the Decision: **