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West v. Barnes
This was the first Supreme Court case decision. This decided that an appeal, or a writ of error, must be issued withing ten days by the Clerk of the Supreme Court. The case came about when there was an issue about paying debt in paper currency in Rhode Island and the court did not use judicial review. -
Chisholm v. Georgia
This was the first major court decision. The state of Georgia did not appear. With the small government, states power, southern mentality, Georgia thought that as a sovereign state it could not be sued. However, the Supreme Court decided that this is not true. The 2nd section of article 3 in the Constitution discussed the states immunities and that a federal court, could in fact, try a state against an individual citizen. -
Marbury v. Madison
This landmark Supreme Court decision established the policy of judicial review with Article 3 of the Constitution. John Adams had appointed Marbury as Justice of the Peace for DC. Marbury's commission was not delivered by the new Secretary of State, James Madison. The court sided with Marbury saying what Maison did was illegal. -
Fletcher v. Peck
John Peck acquired land that had been part of the Yazoo Land Act of 1795 before the grant was voided. After Peck sold the land to Fletcher three years later, he brought a suit against Peck requiring a refund, claiming that the Peck's land title was invalid. In this Marshall ruling, the court found that because the land was out of Georgia's control, the state could not invalidiate the mens contract. (Contract Clause) This was the first time a state law had been overturned by the Supreme Court. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
This landmark case argued if a state legislature can change a college's charter. The Marshall court sided with Dartmouth. The decision declared that Dartmouth could continue on as a private college because a charter is a contract of a king and his trustees. Although the US is no longer a royal colony the charter still stands because it is a contract and the Constitution says that states cannot pass laws that impair contract. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
McCulloch v. Maryland is famous Supreme Court decision because it established two critical policies. First, it declared that Congress has implied powers. This is necessary for the government to function. Secondly, the case determined that state actions cannot override federal government's actions. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Gibbons v. Ogden is a landmark Supreme Court decision because it confirmed that Congress has the power to regulate interstate (not intrastate) commerce. This is under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. This case is also very notable because of the lawyers involved. Daniel Webster and William Wirt argued for Gibbons, while Thomas Addis Emmet and Thomas J. Oakley helped Ogden. -
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
The Cherokee Indian Nation was hoping that the Supreme Court would stop Georgia from forcefully removing the Indians from their land. However, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Georgia claiming that the Supreme Court no authority to settle the dispute as the Cherokee were a domestic dependent nation, not a foreign nation. This failure to help the Indians allowed the unfortunate Trail of Tears to occur later on in 1838. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott had been a slave living in Missouri before he resided in Illinois, a free state, for 10 years. Scott argued that his residency in free land made him a free man. Justice Taney and the Court ruled that Scott was indeed a slave, as he was not considered a citizen of the United States as a slave. This landmark case also ruled the Missouri Compromise of 1820 unconstituional. This was based on the idea that slaves were property and could not be denied from their owners. -
Munn V. Illinois
This case is very imporant because it allowed business within state borders to be regulated by the state government. The opinion declared that the National Grange, the first farmer's organization, could regulate the rates of grain elavators owned by railroads. Ultimately, private property that was used for he public good can be regulated by the government. The case decided that the 14th Amendment could not prevent Illinois from managing costs to use grain elavators owned by a businesses. -
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway Company V. Illinois
This case represented the Supreme Court changing their stance from Munn V. Illinois in 1877. In the Wabash ruling, the Supreme Court prohibited states from regulating interstate railroad rates. They were able to find the Illinois “Granger” law unconstitutional because interstate commerce is under the control of congress. In addition, this case was directly related to the Interstate Commerce Act passed in 1887. This case was representative of the Court not aiding the farmers. -
United States v. E.C. Knight Company
This Supreme Court case was vital because it showed how the Supreme Court was going to interpret the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890. The U.S. agrued that E.C Knight Co., running a monopoly of the sugar-refining business, was operating in illegal restraint of trade under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. However, because the Act didn't clearly define "restraint of trade", the Supreme Court was able to dismiss the case saying that the Knight company did not disturb interstate commerce. -
Pollock V. Farmers' Loan and Trust Company
In this landmark case Charles Pollock of Massachusetts, who owned Ten shares of stock, sued the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company so the company would not pay the Wilson-Gorman Tariff. The Supreme Court decided that unapportioned income taxes made in the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of 1894 were direct taxes that were unconstitutional.They were ruled unconstitutional because they were not direct taxes that coud be apportioned. Later, in1913 the 16th Amendment nullified the ruling. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
This is an extremely important case, as it defined the "separate but equal" laws. The case was brought to attention when Homer Plessey, a man who one-eighths black, was arrested for sitting in the "whites only" railroad car. Plessey tried to argue that the Louisiana "Jim Crow" law was in violation of the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments. However, the Supreme Court upheld the Louisiana law, on the basis that the accommodations would be "separate but equal". -
Northern Securities Co. v. United States
This case involved James Jerome Hill, who created the Northern Securities Company. The company would have control of three major railroads, forming a monopoly and alarming the public. The Company was being accused of violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Ths Supreme Court upheld this ruling, claiming that the company acted in restraint of trade. This case helped prevent more combinations of railroads as well as demonstrate the powers of the Sherman Act to break up existing monopolies. -
Lochner v. New York
This landmark concerned the New York Bakeshop Act, which limited working hours to sixty hours per week. Joseph Lochner was convicted after viloating the law, and appealed to the court on the basis that the act was unconstitutional under the fourteenth amendment. The Supreme Court sided with Lochner, finding the Act to be unconstitutional as it restricted the employer's "liberty to contract." This controversial case would welcome an era where the Court rejected many worker-friendly laws. -
Loewe v. Lawlor (Danbury Hatters Case)
This case occured after the hat manufacturer D.E. Loewe & Company set up as an open shop. The United Hatters of North America, with help from the AFL, organized a boycott of Loewe & Co. In retalliation, Loewe & Co. sued under claims that their interstate commerce was being impeded, illegal under the Sherman Act. The Court ruled that the UHU was indeed in violaion of the Sherman Act. This ruling was hurtful for unions and boycotts, as it expanded the powers of the Sherman Act. -
Muller v. Oregon
This case revolved around a law set in Oregon that set a maximum 10 hour workday for women. Laundry owner Curt Muller was convicted after making a female work more than 10 hours, violating the Oregon law. He appealed to the Court, under the fourteenth amendment. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court upheld the Oregon law arguing that the sexes were different and required different treatment. This case was signifigant as it supported a progressive labor helping law. -
Standard Oil Co. of NJ v. United States
This case focused on John D. Rockefeller, and whether or not his Standard Oil Co. violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. The Supreme Court ruled that the Company was guilty. The court upheld that the Company had, in fact, acted in restrant of trade and had monopilized the Oil industry, thus violating the Sherman Act. The trust was forced to break into smaller, yet still powerful businesses. This case was significant as the Court helped work against the formation of big business and monopolies. -
Schenck v. United States
This case involved Charles Schenck, who published and distributed pamphlets during the war urging Americans to oppose the draft. Schenck was convicted under the Espionage Act, but he argued that this act violated first amendment rights. In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court upheld Schenck's conviction under the argument that Schenck's speech caused "clear and present danger." This reasoning would be used in many cases to come. The case was also signifigant as it put a limit on free speech. -
The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
A science teacher, Scopes, was accused of teaching evolution which was illegal as of the Butler Act in Tennessee. The case is often known for the showdown that occured of Darrow, defense, questioning Bryan, prosecution, about the interpretation of the Bible. Many saw that there was no logic behing Bryan's arguement of the literal bible. The small town of Dayton had a boost in economy and was now well-known because of the trial. Scopes was found guilty, but let free because of a technicality. -
Buck v. Bell
This case involved Carrie Buck, a feeble minded young woman, whose mental limitations ran in the family. A Virginia law would allow for the sexual sterilization of "unfit" humans, including Carrie. When her case was brought before the Court, they decided that the law was not unconstitutional. This case was important as it supported the ideas of Eugenics, a controversial idea in America. -
Powell v. Alabama
Nine blacks known as the Scottsboro Boys, were found guilty and sentenced to death for raping 2 white women in their court. The boys met their lawyers just moments before the trial with no time for preperation. They appealed to their state Supreme Court. The Alabama Supreme Court found the decision fair. In the Supreme Court appeal the decision was reversed because they were not given the right to due process. The case decideed that the defendant must be given access to counsel at their request. -
Schechter Poultry Corp v. United States
Schechter Poultry was accused of 18 charges for using unhealthy chickens. The Supreme Court decided that the National Industrial Recovery Act, part of Roosevelt's New Deal programs, was unconstitutional. This unanimous decision said that the regulations for the poultry were invalid. Also, under the commerce clause, Congress's power does not include pasing legislation such as the National Industrial Recovery Act. The Supreme Court decided that the NIRA was violarting the seperation of powers. -
United States v. Butler
This case discussed whether the taxes installed through the Agricultural Adjustment Act were Constitutional. The court decided that the tax, which taxed the farm products, was not a valid tax. Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that the Agricultural Adjustment Act, part of President Roosevelt's New Deal was unconstitutional because the processing taxes were not valid. Some justices argued that the taxes even violated the tenth amendment. -
Smith v. Allright
Smith v. Allright was a step forward for the African-American campaign fo voting rights. In Texas and multiple other states the Democratic party had a rule for all-white primaries. Smith, a black voter, sued Allright, an election official, for the right to vote. The decision ruled that the Teas all-white primary was unconstitutional.In eight southern states there were laws restraining blacks from voting. However, the states managed to minimize the amount of African-Americans voting. -
Korematsu v. United States
This case challenged the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. However, the Supreme Court decided to uphold the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066. They found that it was critical to prevent any sort of espionage. In this case the Supreme Court believed that protecting the nation is more important than Korematsu's individual rights. Korematsu's conviction was overtuned, however, the court decision was not. -
Morgan v. Virginia
Irene Morgan, and African-American woman, got on a bus to go from Virginia to Maryland. She objected to sit in the back of the bus and was arrested and fined ten dollars. Morgan argued that the law forbidding African-Americans to sit in the front of the bus was a state law, and since this was interstate transport the law did not apply. The Suprem Court ruled in favor of Morgan deciding that segregation in interstate bus tranportation was unconstitutional. -
Shelley v. Kraemer
The black Shelley family purchased a house in Missouri in 1945, unaware of a cevenant that prevented negroes from owning property. Neighbor Louis Kraemer then sued the Shelleys. The Supreme Court needed to decide was whether or not racially based covenants were constitutional under the fourteenth amendment. The Supreme Court found that the enforcement of covenants barring property rights to minorities was unconstitutional. This case was a step against racial discrimination. -
Dennis v. United States
In this case Eugene Dennis, the general secratary of te Communist Party of the USA, was fighting for his freedom of speech. The Supreme Court decided that Dennis did not have the right to the first amendmnt if he was going to use it to iscuss conspiracies to overthrow the government. This was an attack to communism. It shows how the United States was so against communism that they woul even restrict a citizen their first ammendment right because of being a communist. -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Plantiff Oliver Brown, as well as 13 other Topeka parents, filed a suit when their children were not allowed to attend all-white schools. They claimed that the segregation of white and black schoolchildren was not "seperate but equal." In the landmark decision, the court unanimously ruled that segregation of public schools did in fact violate the fourteenth amendment. The controversial case overturned Plessey v. Ferguson, and was a large step in the right direction for racial equality. -
Browder v. Gayle
This case was part of the litigation phase of the civil rights movement. Aurelia Browder was among a group of mistreated women who agreed to take part in the civil suit. As an important effect of the non-violent action behind the Montgomery bus boycott, this case ruled that segregation of buses in Montgomery was in violation of the constitution under the Fourteenth Amendment. While the ruling did not completely end segregation or prejudice in the United States, it was still a victory. -
Jencks v. United States
Clinton Jencks was convicted under the National Labor Relations Act for falsely swearing that he was not a communist. The issue was that the government's vital testimonies were given by undercover agents and falsely claimed that Jencks was a communist. Jencks was denied his request for the documents to be inspected by the judge. The court held that the withholding of the documents was the Court's error and the conviction was reversed. The case led to the Jencks Act, preventing further issues. -
Yates v. United States
Fourteen alleged communist leaders, including Yates, were arrested and convicted under the Smith Act. He claimed that his party was engaged in passive, not active actions agsinst the government and therefore was not in violation of the Smith Act. The Supreme Court ruled that "organizing" a communist organization was ambiguous, and Yates and the others could not be prosecuted for their actions. This important decision essentially ended further prosecution of Communists and protected free speech. -
Engel v. Vitale
Engel v. Vitale was a controversial landmark decision that made it illegal for a state official to impose or encourage prayers in public school. The Supreme Court found this action to be unconstitutional because everyone has the right to their own religion, or no religion. A few families complained that a prayer to the "Almighty God" went against their religion and brought it to court, resulting in this decision. It showed a huge shift in the way religion was seen in America. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
This landmark case involved Clarence Earl Gideon, who was arrested for breaking and entering in the state of Florida. Gideon did not have enough money to provide his own attorney, and his appeal to have one granted to him was denied because the trial did not involve the death penalty. When Gideon appealed to the Supreme Court, the court ruled that Gideon had not recieved a fair trial. This important case requires the state to provide attorneys in felony cases, as stated in the Sixth Amendment. -
Abington v. Schempp
This case was one of many liberal decisions by the Warren Court. Edward Schempp filed suit against Abington school district, as he believed that his children should not have been forced to read the bible at public school. The court ruled that the law requiring children to engage in this religious activity did indeed violate the first and fourteenth amendment. The case, along with Engel v. Vitale, was significant in favoring the constitution and law over forced participation in religion. -
Griswold v. Connecticut
Estelle Griswold, the director of the Connectucut Planned Parenthood League, was in charge of a birth control clinic that was ordered to be in violation of a Connecticut law that banned contraceptives. In this landmark decision, the court ruled that the law violated these married couples fundamental right to privacy. While privacy was not explicitly stated in the constitution, the ruling fell under penumbras of other protections. This case would later be expanded on in Roe v. Wade. -
Miranda v. Arizona
Miranda v. Arizona was a landmark case establishing the famous Miranda Rights. These were right about imprisonment and trial given to the accused. When arrested, a police officer is require to give the Miranda warning(listing the rights). If they do not, the accused can get out of jail. The case occured when Ernesto Miranda was arrested and signed a confession after interogation for kidnapping and raping an 18 year old woman. But, Miranda was not informed of his rights. -
Loving v. Virginia
Virginia residents Mildred Jeter, a black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, had moved out of state to be married. When they came back to Virginia, they were charged for violating Virginia's statute which banned inter-racial marriages. In a unanimous decision, the court found that the Virginia law did indeed violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This liberal Warren ruling helped America reconsider the definition of marriage during a time of rising civil rights. -
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education established busing to integrate schools. The issue of having seperate schools for races was brought to court to create interracial school systems. The Spreme Court believed that the best way to do this was to change the school district of children. Therefore, the court provided that busing would be funded in order to do this. -
Furman v. Georgia
When William Furman was attempting to escape after being caught commiting burglary in a private home, his gun went off and killed someone. The question here was whether not his conviction of the death penalty under the state law was unconstitutional under "cruel and unusual punishment". In this split decision, the court ruled that the death penalty was in fact unconstitutional in this case. This forced others to rethink the statutes regarding capital punishment. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade made the famous controversial decision legalizing a woman's right to abortion. With Roe v. Wade the right to privacy under the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment women could make their decision to have an abortion. There however was a limitation on abortion. It could only be done until viability. Viability is defined as when the baby can live outside of the womb. This part was later overturned and many states impose laws to make aortion legal only in the first trimester. -
Buckley v. Valeo
This case was an attempt to limit corruption in campaigns. The question was whether or not new limits set under the Federal Election Campaign Act, such as limiting individual campaign contributions, were constitutional. In the somewhat complicated decision, the court upheld restrictions on individual contributions as well as forced disclosure of all donations, but struck down regulations on campaign expenditures. This case, while limiting, still gave the wealthy an upperhand in elections. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Allan Bakke was a white man who had twice been rejected admission from the University of California despite having better qualifications than minority students who had been admitted. Bakke argued that he had been discriminated against. In this split decision, the court ruled that while it was unconstitutional to have quotas for minorities, as the school had, affirmative action was constitutional. The plan was that race should be looked at as one of several factors during admissions. -
Planned Parenthood v. Casey
This case involved an amendment to the preexisting abortion laws established in Roe v. Wade. A Pennsyslvania Act which added provisions such as informed consent, a 24 hour waiting period before the procedure, and parental consent for minors was being challenged. In this 5-4 decision, the Court reaffirmed Roe v. Wade but ruled most of the Pennsylvania act constitutional as the stipulations did not add any "undue burdens". This case paved the way for further state regulations of abortion, though. -
United States v. Virginia
The Virginia Military Institute was Virginia's only exclusively male public undergraduate school. The suit was brought under the justification that the school's male-only rule violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Virginia offered to add a seperate institute for women, but this was struck down in the court as it would not be equal. The ruling that the male-only school was unconstitutional made VMI the last all-male public University in the US, a victory for women.
