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Landmark Supreme Court Cases
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Marbury v. Madison
This case was brought to court by Federalist, William Marbury when the new administration did not deliver the commission Marbury was rightfully owned to. So William Marbury sued James Madison, which was Jefferson's Secretary of State at the time; who was also in charge of the judicial reviews. The court declared that is was unconstitutional. Marbury won the case, and had his commission reviewed. -
McCullouch v. Maryland
In this case, a banker, James W. McCullouch refused to pay taxes, which was imposed by the state. Maryland sued McCullouch so that he would pay the taxes. This case challenged the Constitution. Many people posed two similar questions: Does the Constitution give Congress power to create a bank? And could individual states ban or tax the bank? The court decided that the Government had the right to set up a federal bank, and not be charged by amy states. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri. He lived in Illinois which was a free state and where slavery was not allowed. After returning to Missouri, Scott sued in the Missouri courts for his freedom, claiming that his residence in free territory made him a free man. Scott then brought a new suit in federal court. Scott's master said that no pure-blooded Negro of African descent and the descendant of slaves could be a citizen. The decision was overturned. The ones who were once free are affected. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The state of Louisiana made a law that required separate railway cars for blacks and whites. In 1892, Homer Plessy ,who was seven-eighths white, took a seat in a "whites only" car of a train. He refused to move to the "black" section and was arrested. Plessy lossed the case decision. 7-to-1. All black were affected by this case, until segregation was abolished. -
Korematsu v. United States
In WWII, Presidential Executive Order 9066 and congressional statutes gave the military authority to exclude citizens of Japanese descent from areas that were critical to national defense. Korematsu remained in San Leandro, California and violated Civilian Exclusion Order No. 34 of the U.S. Army. Korematsu lossed the case 6-to-3. This case affected all of the the Japanese-Americans during that time. Even now. -
Brown v. Board of Ed Topeka KS
This case was brought to court by young African-American children that were denied admission to schools attended by strictly white children, which was under laws that allowed segregation by race. So the children sued. The Rule of Law: Seperate but equal schools are inherently unequal. The case was upheld; Brown won the case. This case impacts the lives of current/past students. If it wasn't for this case, our schools would still be segregated. -
Mapp v. Ohio
Dollree Mapp was convicted of having obscene materials after an illegal police search of her home for a fugitive. She then appealed her conviction on the basis of freedom of expression. Mapp won the case 6-to-3. This case affects all of those who were convicted by an illegal search. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
Gideon was charged with a felony for breaking and entering. He didn't have a lawyer to defend him because of his lack of funds. The court refused his request for a lawyer. Gideon defended himself in the trial; he was convicted by a jury and the court sentenced him to five years in a state prison. This violated his right for a fair trail. Gideon won the case 9-to-0. This case affects those who cannot afford a lawyer. -
Miranda v. Arizona
Can the police interrogate individuals without notifiying them of their right to counsel and their protection against self-incrimination violate the Fifth Amendment? That is exactly what happened to Miranda. Miranda won the case 5-to4. Now all U.S. Citizens must be told their rights when being arrested by a police officer. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
The tinker family decided to protest the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands to their schools. The prinicipal feared that the children were provoking the learing of other students, so he banned them from wearing them. They refused and were suspended from school. Tinker won 7-to-2. This case affects the right for freedom of speech. -
Roe v. Wade
Does the Constitution embrace a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy by abortion? So Roe took the case to court when she was refused help for an abortion. Roe won 7-to-2. This case affects all females who were denied help for an abortion. -
NJ v. T.L.O.
T.L.O. was a fourteen-year-old; she was accused of smoking in the girls' bathroom of her high school. A principal at the school questioned her and searched her purse, having a bag of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. T.L.O lossed the case 6-to-3. THis case affects all stundents in the U.S. -
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
The school newspaper of Hazelwood East High School, was written and edited by students. The school principal, received the articles and thought that two articles were inapropiate, so he took them out of publication. Kuhlmeier and two other students brought the case to court. Hazelwood won 5-to-3. This case affects all school-sponsored newspapers. -
Texas v. Johnson
In front of the Dallas City Hall, Johnson burned an American flag as protest against Reagan administration policies. Johnson was convicted under law, outlawing flag desecration. He was sentenced to one year in jail and was given a $2,000 fine. The conviction was reversed. Johnson won 5-to-4. This case affects U.S. citizens and their rights, as a form of speech.
