Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Report on Supreme Court decisions.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite

(DC) Court strengthens powers of police and prosecutors with regard to search and seizure cases. Mandatory Oklahoma death penalty declared unconst. Only liberals left from Earl Warren court are Justices William Brennan and Thurgood Marshall. Nixon appoints Justices Warren Burger, William Rehnquist and Harry Blackmun, joined by Byron White in conservative positions. Moderate justices, Potter Stewart, Lewis Powell and Ford appointee John Paul Stevens hold court's center of power. Court rules private schools may not exclude blacks. It okays metro method of dispersing blacks into Chicago suburbs. Black workers denied jobs receive compensatory seniority. Busing cut back in Pasadena, California, and may be limited elsewhere. Court rules gag order unconstitutional restricting press coverage of Nebraska trial. Cities can zone adult entertainment in or out of certain neighborhoods. Consumer advocate, Ralph Nader, allowed to sue airline for bumping him from flight. State laws that forbid druggists from advertising drug prices banned. Court rules that strip miners may operate in vast areas without filing regional environmental impact statements. State laws limiting. abortion declared unconst., but court upheld law making it crime for married couples to perform certain sex acts. Court most consistent with regard to crime cases. Examples noted. [Ex-Justice Tom C. CLARK - cites his confidence in Justices.] Court seems to be in middle-of-road position.
REPORTER: Fred Graham

(Studio) Marshall, 67, suffers heart attack Saturday and is in hospital.
REPORTER: Walter Cronkite