Landmark Supreme Court cases

This case upheld Louisiana’s segregation law, ruling that racial separation was constitutional as long as facilities were “separate but equal.” Justice John Marshall Harlan dissented, arguing that the Constitution should be color-blind, and the decision later legitimized Jim Crow segregation until it was overturned by #4

This case arose when William sued James after his judicial commission, signed by John Adams, was not delivered by the new Jefferson administration. The Supreme Court ruled that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional because it expanded the Court’s original jurisdiction, establishing the principle of judicial review—the Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional.

This case ruled that a woman’s right to privacy, rooted in earlier cases like Griswold v. Connecticut, protected the decision to have an abortion, striking down state laws that banned it. The Court held that the Constitution does not define the unborn as “persons” and legalized abortion during the first trimester, though Norma McCorvey later renounced the case and joined the pro-life movement.

This case ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson and rejecting the “separate but equal” doctrine. Although the Court ordered desegregation to proceed “with all deliberate speed,” many Southern schools resisted, and widespread compliance did not occur until around 1970.

This case held that Congress had the implied power to create the Second Bank of the United States even though it was not explicitly listed in the Constitution. The Court also ruled that states could not tax federal institutions, reinforcing federal supremacy over the states.

This case ruled that challenges to legislative apportionment were justiciable, meaning federal courts could hear cases about unfair electoral districts. This decision paved the way for Reynolds v. Sims (1964), which established the principle of “one person, one vote.”

The Court unanimously ruled that the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments require states to provide an attorney to defendants who cannot afford one in all criminal trials, overturning Betts v. Brady. This man was retried with counsel and acquitted, cementing the right to legal representation. This case occurred when the plaintiff was accused of breaking into a pool hall, and then he did not receive counsel.

The Court struck down the Keating-Owen Act, ruling that Congress lacked the power to regulate child labor through interstate commerce. This decision limited federal authority until it was overturned in U.S. v. Darby (1941), which upheld federal labor standards.

The Court ruled that Georgia could not void corrupt land sales made by a prior legislature, affirming the sanctity of contracts. It became one of the first cases where the Supreme Court struck down a state law as unconstitutional.

Chief Justice Taney ruled that only Congress, not the president, could suspend the writ of habeas corpus, declaring Lincoln’s action unconstitutional. Lincoln ignored the ruling, highlighting tensions between executive power and civil liberties during the Civil War.

The Supreme Court ruled that Article III allowed citizens to sue a state, rejecting Georgia’s claim of sovereign immunity. The backlash to this decision led directly to the passage of the Eleventh Amendment, which limited such lawsuits against states.

The Court held that Congress has broad power to regulate interstate commerce and that federal law supersedes conflicting state laws. This ruling invalidated New York’s steamboat monopoly and strengthened federal authority.

The Court ruled that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and therefore could not sue in federal court. It also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, intensifying sectional conflict over slavery.

The Court upheld state regulation of private businesses when they serve a public interest, such as grain elevators. This case expanded the government’s ability to regulate industries, especially railroads.

The Court upheld limits on women’s working hours, accepting scientific evidence that long hours harmed women’s health. While expanding labor protections, it also reinforced gender-based legal distinctions.

The Court ruled that free speech is not protected when it poses a “clear and present danger,” such as interfering with military recruitment. This case established limits on First Amendment protections during wartime.

The Court struck down a state ban on contraception, recognizing a constitutional right to privacy derived from the Bill of Rights. This decision became a foundation for later privacy-related rulings.

The Court ruled that suspects must be informed of their rights before police questioning, including the right to remain silent and to an attorney. This decision established the Miranda warnings to protect against self-incrimination.

The Court unanimously struck down laws banning interracial marriage, ruling they violated the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses. It affirmed marriage as a fundamental individual right.

The Court ruled that laws criminalizing consensual same-sex activity violated the liberty protections of the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision overturned Bowers v. Hardwick and paved the way for later LGBTQ+ rights cases.