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An Independent Judiciary: Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and Cooper v. Aaron

This documentary, featuring Justice Stephen G. Breyer and leading constitutional scholars, chronicles two key moments that defined our understanding of the role of the judiciary: the Cherokee Nation’s struggles before the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1830s to preserve its homeland in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, and Cooper v. Aaron (1958), which affirmed that states were bound to follow the Court’s order to integrate their schools. (34 min)

Closed captions available in multiple languages including Spanish.

Awards & Honors

  • ABA Coalition for Justice Award
  • Bronze Telly Award
  • CINE Golden Eagle Award