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Milestone Events in Supreme Court
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Creation of Supreme Court
The Supreme Court was created under Article III of the Constitution. (At Independence Hall in Philadelphia) -
John Jay
John Jay was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was from NY and had formerly been the president of the Continental Congress. George Washington appointed him to be on the Supreme Court and he served for 5 years. After 5 years, he became the governor of NY. Jay was later nominated for a second term as Chief Justice by John Adams, but he declined the offer. -
John Marshall
Marshall was appointed to Supreme Court by John Adams and held position through inauguration of Jefferson. He served for 34 years (longest time of any Chief Justice) and he helped determine that the Supreme Court has the final say in the meaning of the Constitution -
Marbury v. Madison
William Marbury appointed by John Adams to be justice of peace for Washington, DC in his last few days in office. However, he was never fully appointed when Adams left office. Supreme Court ruled that he could have the position and checks and balances were brought about. This case established the power of the Supreme Court to intepret the Constitution. -
Fletcher v. Peck
1795: state of GA divided 35 million acres of land into 4 tracts and sold to development companies
Later discovered that sales approved with bribery and sales were voided
John Peck purchased land in 1795 from GA and sold it to Robert Fletcher in 1803. Fletcher sued Peck becasue he thought Peck had no right to sell land because the original sale was invalid. Supreme Court ruled state's repeal of law unconstitutional and land wouldn't be taken away -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
New Hampshire state legislature attempted to turn Dartmouth College into a pubic institution. Dartmough sued William H. Woodward, who had sided with the new trustees brought about by the recent changes. The Supreme Court ruled that the charter was between private parties, and, therefore, the legislature could nto interfere. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
1816: Congress established Second Bank of US
1817: Branch opens in Maryland
1818: Maryland passes law taxing all banks not chartered by legislature. James McCulloch (head of Baltimore branch) refuses to pay tax. Court said Congress had right to create bank and Maryland's laws couldn't interfere. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Aaron Ogden bought rights to operate steamboats between NY and NJ from monopoly given by NY. Ogden sued Thomas Gibbons for operating steamboats in area without permission. Court said NY couldn't grant monopoly and Congress could regulate coastal trade. -
Worcester v. Georgia
The Supreme Court under chief justice John Marshall ruled that the state of Georgia could not interfere with the Cherokees because the Cherokees operated as a sovereign nation. Therefore, the Georgia acts were unconstitional and had no effect. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all blacks (both free and slave) would never be citizens of the United States. It also ruled the Compromise of 1820 a violation of the Constitution, therefore slavery was to be allowed in the territories. While devastating for blacks, it brought the issue of slavery to the spotlight.
