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Plessy V. Ferguson
Homer Plessy refused to sit in the blacks only train car, because he only had 1/8 black ancestry. His case went to the Supreme Court where he was ruled 7-1 against. (Separate but equal) -
Brown V. Board of Education
An all white school in Topeka, Kansas refused to enroll Oliver Brown's daughter, which made her attend an all black school farther away. The case was argued in front of the Supreme Court, and ruled 9-0 in favor of Mr. Brown stating that separate schools are unequal and violate the 14th Amendment. -
Miranda V. Arizona
Ernesto Miranda was arrested for circumstantial evidence linking him to a rape and kidnapping in Phoenix, Arizona. Miranda signed a confession with a letter ensuring that he was aware of his legal rights, however Miranda was never informed of his right to counsel. His case was ruled 5-4 in his favor which overturned his conviction, and set a retrial back in Arizona. Now every person in police custody is required to be informed of their "Miranda Rights." -
Loving V. Virginia
Mildred & Richard Loving (an interracial couple) were sentenced to a year in prison in 1958 for marrying. The couple's case went to the Supreme Court where they were ruled unanimously in favor of. All race based legal restriction on marriage were overturned. -
Roe V. Wade
Norma McCorvey; "Jane Roe" became pregnant in 1969 with her third child, and wanted to have an abortion. Abortion was illegal in Texas where she lived, except when the delivery may harm the mother's life. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in her favor, the ruling made abortion legal in most circumstances. Norma McCorvey later in life regretted her involvement in Roe V. Wade, and became involved in the pro-life movement. -
Roe V. Wade
Norma McCorvey; "Jane Roe" became pregnant in 1969 with her third child, and wanted to have an abortion. Abortion was illegal in Texas where she lived, except when the delivery may harm the mother's life. The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in her favor, the ruling made abortion legal in most circumstances. Norma McCorvey later in life regretted her involvement in Roe V. Wade, and became involved in the pro-life movement. -
United States V. Nixon
President Nixon refused to hand over recordings during the Watergate investigation claiming executive privilege. The Supreme Court ruled against him unanimously ordering him to hand over the tapes. Nixon resigned a short period later. -
Texas V. Johnson
Gregory Johnson participated in a protest outside of the Republican National Convention in Texas in 1984. Johnson lit a U.S. Flag on fire using kerosene. He was arrested shortly after. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Johnson was well within his First Amendment rights. -
District of Columbia V. Heller
Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to own a gun for traditionally purposes such as self-defense within the home, without serving in a state militia. -
Citizens United V. FEC
A conservative non-profit organization wanted to air a film critical of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shortly before the 2008 Democratic primary elections. This violated the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which prohibited any corporation from making an advertising effort to affect voters' opinion of a candidate within 30 days of a primary. SCOTUS ruled that the free speech clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting political efforts by corporations, -
Obergefell V. Hodges
James Obergefell & John Arthur were a same sex couple who wanted their marriage on John Arthur's death certificate. (He was terminally ill) The Supreme Court Ruled 5-4 that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees the right to marry. (13 states still prohibited it at the time)
