Changes

The Warren Court's activism stretched into a new turf, especially First Amendment rights. The Court's decision outlawing mandatory school prayer in [[Engel v. Vitale]] (1962) brought vehement complaints that echoed into the 21st century.<ref>See [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=370&invol=421 ENGEL v. VITALE, 370 U.S. 421 (1962) ]</ref>

The Warren Court's activism stretched into a new turf, especially First Amendment rights. The Court's decision outlawing mandatory school prayer in [[Engel v. Vitale]] (1962) brought vehement complaints that echoed into the 21st century.<ref>See [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=370&invol=421 ENGEL v. VITALE, 370 U.S. 421 (1962) ]</ref>

Warren worked to nationalize the Bill of Rights by applying it to the states. Moreover, in one of the landmark cases decided by the Court, [[Griswold v. Connecticut]] (1963), the Warren Court announced a constitutionally protected right of privacy.<ref>See [http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0381_0479_ZS.html [[Griswold v. Connecticut]] (No. 496) 151 Conn. 544, 200 A.2d 479, reversed]</ref>  No one at the time expected the court, after Warren's retirement, would use the decision to allow abortion.

Warren worked to nationalize the Bill of Rights by applying it to the states. Moreover, in one of the landmark cases decided by the Court, [[Griswold v. Connecticut]] (1963), the Warren Court announced a constitutionally protected right of privacy.<ref>See [http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0381_0479_ZS.html [[Griswold v. Connecticut]] (No. 496) 151 Conn. 544, 200 A.2d 479, reversed]</ref>  No one at the time expected the court, after Warren's retirement, would use the decision to allow abortion.

 

With the exception of the desegregation decisions, few decisions were unanimous. The eminent scholar John Marshall Harlan took Frankfurter's place as the Court's self-constraint spokesman, often joined by Potter Stewart and Byron R. White. But with the appointment of Thurgood Marshall, the first black justice, and Abe Fortas (replacing Goldberg), Warren could count on six votes in most cases.

==Warren Commission==

==Warren Commission==

In November 1963 President Johnson demanded in the name of patriotic duty that Warren head the governmental commission that investigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  It became widely known as the [[Warren Commission]]. It was an unhappy experience for Warren, who did not want the assignment. As a judge, he valued candor and justice, but as a politician he recognized the need for secrecy in some matters. He insisted that the commission report should be unanimous, and so he compromised on a number of issues in order to get all the members to sign the final version. However, contrary to the general "single bullet theory" that appears to be reputable, documents show that [[Gerald Ford]] had changed autopsy reports in order for the narrative to fit as he intended.<ref>[http://www.jfklancer.com/Ford-Rankin.html JFK Lancer: Gerald Ford's Terrible Fiction]</ref> The initial draft had stated "back at a point slightly above the shoulder to the right of the spine" though Ford changed it to "back of his neck slightly to the right of the spine". Warren, siding with Ford, concurred with the single bullet theory.

In November 1963 President Johnson demanded in the name of patriotic duty that Warren head the governmental commission that investigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  It became widely known as the [[Warren Commission]]. It was an unhappy experience for Warren, who did not want the assignment. As a judge, he valued candor and justice, but as a politician he recognized the need for secrecy in some matters. He insisted that the commission report should be unanimous, and so he compromised on a number of issues in order to get all the members to sign the final version. However, contrary to the general "single bullet theory" that appears to be reputable, documents show that [[Gerald Ford]] had changed autopsy reports in order for the narrative to fit as he intended.<ref>[http://www.jfklancer.com/Ford-Rankin.html JFK Lancer: Gerald Ford's Terrible Fiction]</ref> The initial draft had stated "back at a point slightly above the shoulder to the right of the spine" though Ford changed it to "back of his neck slightly to the right of the spine". Warren, siding with Ford, concurred with the single bullet theory.