Notable Decisions of the Supreme Court

Notable decisions of the Supreme Court

1790-1819

Chisholm v. Georgia, 2 U.S. 419 (1793): first "major" case; federal jurisdiction over suits vs. states

Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803): judicial review of laws enacted by Congress

Stuart v. Laird, 5 U.S. 299 (1803): enforceability of rulings issued by judges who have since been removed from office

Ex Parte Bollman, 8 U.S. 75 (1807): habeas corpus, definition of treason, Supreme Court's power to issue writs to circuit courts

Fletcher v. Peck, 10 U.S. 87 (1810): property rights

Martin v. Hunter's Lessee, 14 U.S. 304 (1816): Loyalist property forfeiture, Supreme Court review of state court judgments

McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819): doctrine of implied powers

Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 17 U.S. 518 (1819): impairment of contracts

1820-1839

Cohens v. Virginia, 19 U.S. 264 (1821): judicial review of state supreme court decisions

Gibbons v. Ogden, 22 U.S. 1 (1824): Congressional power to regulate interstate commerce

Ogden v. Saunders, 25 U.S. 213 (1827): state bankruptcy law

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 30 U.S. 1 (1831): Indian nations as foreign states

Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832): Indian removal

Barron v. Baltimore, 32 U.S. 243 (1833): reach of the Bill of Rights

1840-1859

United States v. The Amistad, 40 U.S. 518 (1841): slave trade and slave ownership (see Amistad)

Prigg v. Pennsylvania, 41 U.S. 539 (1842): runaway slaves

Dred Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1856): slavery, citizenship

1860-1879

Ex Parte Milligan, 71 U.S. 2 (1866): habeas corpus, military tribunals

Ex Parte Garland, 71 U.S. 333 (1866): retroactive civil disability for former Confederate officers

Ex Parte McCardle, 74 U.S. 506 (1868): congressional power to limit Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction

United States v. Klein, 80 U.S. 128 (1871)

Slaughterhouse Cases, 83 U.S. 36 (1872): freedom of employment

Bradwell v. The State (of Illinois), 83 U.S. 130 (1872): equal protection, excluding women from employment

Minor v. Happersett, 88 U.S. 162 (1874):Fourteenth Amendment does not provide a right of Suffrage

United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 (1875): The First and Second Amendment do not apply to the States, despite the Fourteenth Amendment

Munn v. Illinois, 94 U.S. 113 (1876)

1880-1899

Civil Rights Cases, 109 U.S. 3 (1883)

Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, 118 U.S. 394 (1886)

Wabash v. Illinois, 118 U.S. 557 (1886): individual states can not regulate interstate commerce

Dent v. West Virginia, 129 U.S. 114 (1889): state licensing of doctors

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad v. Minnesota, 134 U.S. 418 (1890): states and railway fees

Nix v. Hedden, 149 U.S. 304 (1893): status of tomato as fruit or vegetable

United States v. E. C. Knight Co., 156 U.S. 1 (1895): antitrust action; "Sugar Trust Case"

In re Debs, 158 U.S. 564 (1895): strikes and interstate commerce

Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co., 158 U.S. 601 (1895): income tax and tariffs

Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896): segregation, "separate but equal"

United States v. Trans-Missouri Freight Association, 166 U.S. 290 (1897): railroads and rate fixing

Holden v. Hardy, 169 U.S. 366 (1898)

Hawker v. New York, 170 U.S. 189 (1898): character and doctor's licenses

United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898): citizenship and race

Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education, 175 U.S. 528 (1899): segregation in public schools

1900-1919

Insular Cases, (numerous): constitutional status of Puerto Rico and the Philippines

DeLima v. Bidwell, 182 U.S. 1 (1901)

Goetze v. United States, 182 U.S. 221 (1901)

Armstrong v. United States, 182 U.S. 243 (1901)

Downes v. Bidwell, 182 U.S. 244 (1901)

Huus v. New York & Porto Rico S.S. Co., 182 U.S. 392 (1901)

Dooley v. United States, 183 U.S. 151 (1901)

Fourteen Diamond Rings v. United States, 183 U.S. 176 (1901)

Hawaii v. Manikichi, 190 U.S. 197 (1903), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases

Kepner v. United States, 195 U.S. 100 (1904), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases

Dorr v. United States, 195 U.S. 138 (1904), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases

Gonzales v. Williams, 192 U.S. 1 (1904): Puerto Ricans and illegal aliens

Rasmussen v. United States, 197 U.S. 516 (1905), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases

Lochner v. New York, 198 U.S. 45 (1905): freedom of contract, substantive due process

Hale v. Henkel, 201 U.S. 43 (1906): witness testimony in antitrust cases

Northwestern National Life Insurance Co. v. Riggs, 203 U.S. 243 (1906)

Adair v. United States, 208 U.S. 161 (1908): "yellow-dog" contracts

Muller v. Oregon, 208 U.S. 412 (1908): protective labor laws, protection of women

Bobbs-Merrill Co v. Straus, 210 U.S. 339 (1908): Extension of copyright holder rights with license terms

Berea College v. Kentucky, 211 U.S. 45 (1908): state laws and segregation of educational facilities

United States v. Grimaud, 220 U.S. 506 (1911): Control of forest reserves

Dowdell v. United States, 221 U.S. 325 (1911), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases

Bauer & Cie. v. O'Donnell, 229 U.S. 1 (1913): No extending patent with license, no exclusive right by holder on "use" of copyrighted works. Licesened and sold are the same thing if purchased as finished product.

Ocampo v. United States, 234 U.S. 91 (1914), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases

Guinn v. United States, 238 U.S. 347 (1915)

Buchanan v. Warley, 245 U.S. 60 (1917): racial covenants

Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918): Congressional power to regulate child labor under the Commerce Clause

International News Service v. Associated Press, 248 U.S. 215 (1918): determined whether there are any property rights in news.

Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919): freedom of speech, "clear and present danger"

1920-1939

Missouri v. Holland, 252 U.S. 416 (1920): states' rights

Balzac v. Porto Rico[sic], 258 U.S. 298 (1922), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases

Adkins v. Children's Hospital, 261 U.S. 525 (1923): freedom of contract, minimum wage laws

United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels (More or Less) Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar, 265 U.S. 438 (1924): Food and Drug Act condemns misleading statements on packaging, even if literally true.

Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925): privacy

Gitlow v. New York, 268 U.S. 652 (1925)

Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52 (1926)

Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200 (1927): compulsory sterilization, eugenics

Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927)

Near v. Minnesota, 283 U.S. 697 (1931): freedom of speech

Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45 (1932)

Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, 295 U.S. 495 (1935): interstate commerce, New Deal

West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, 300 U.S. 379 (1937)]: freedom of contract, minimum wage laws, "the switch in time that saved nine"

Connecticut General Life Insurance Company v. Johnson, 303 U.S. 77 (1938)

United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939)

1940-1959

Chambers v. Florida, 309 U.S. 227 (1940)

Edwards v. California, 314 U.S. 160 (1941): Interstate Commerce clause

Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 (1942): fighting words

Betts v. Brady, 316 U.S. 455 (1942)

Skinner v. Oklahoma, 316 U.S. 535 (1942): compulsory sterilization, eugenics

Smith v. Allwright, 321 U.S. 649 (1944): voting rights, segregation

Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1944): Japanese internment

Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947): First Amendment, Establishment of Religion

Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 (1948),: equal protection, racial covenants

United States v. National City Lines Inc., 334 U.S. 573 (1948): General Motors streetcar conspiracy

Wheeling Steel Corp. v. Glander, 337 U.S. 562 (1949): due process (Fourteenth Amendment), Interstate Commerce clause

Wolf v. Colorado, 338 U.S. 25 (1949): Fourteenth Admendment, state court, evidence from unreasonable search and seizure

Sweatt v. Painter, 339 U.S. 629 (1950): segregation, separate but equal

McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637 (1950): Fourteenth Amendment, segregation

Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494 (1951): First Amendment and the Smith Act

Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165 (1952): restriction of police power

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954): segregation , "separate inherently inequal"

Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497 (1954): segregation

Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12 (1956): access to court transcript for indigent appeals

Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476 (1957): obscenity

NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 (1958): upheld NAACP refusal to provide membership lists to Alabama

1960-1979

Boynton v. Virginia, 364 U.S. 454 (1960): racial segregation

Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 488 (1961): oaths, religious test, 1st Amendment

Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961): search and seizure, exclusionary rule

Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962): reapportionment issues

Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962): school prayer

Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963): right to counsel

Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 (1963): criminal court appeal unavailable due to defendant poverty violates Fourteenth Amendment

Abington School District v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963): mandatory bible reading in public school

Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1 (1964): size of districts

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964): freedom of speech, libel

Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964): population size of districts for state senates.

Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184 (1964): I know [obscenity] when I see it[.] - Justice Potter Stewart

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States, 379 U.S. 241 (1964): interstate commerce, civil rights, public accommodations

Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965): privacy, birth control

Memoirs v. Massachusetts, 383 U.S. 413 (1966): ruling on obscenity

Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, 383 U.S. 663 (1966)

Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966): self-incrimination, "you have the right to remain silent"

In Re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967): due process, juveniles

Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967): interracial marriage

Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968): search and seizure, right of police to stop and frisk suspiciouspersons

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969): freedom of speech balanced against discipline in public schools

Street v. New York, 394 U.S. 576 (1969)

Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 395 U.S. 367 (1969): Fairness Doctrine, broadcaster responsibilities, freedom of speech

Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969): freedom of speech, incitement to riot

Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970): procedural due process, hearing requirement

Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971): employment discrimination; disparate impact of employer practices

Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, 402 U.S. 1 (1971): busing authorized to establish school desegregation

Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971): freedom of speech, fighting words/obscenity, "fuck the draft"

Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971): establishment of religion, schools, "the Lemon test"

New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971): freedom of the press, national security, Pentagon Papers

Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972): freedom of religion, high school education

Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972): death penalty, cruel and unusual punishment

Perry v. Sindermann, 408 U.S. 593 (1972): defacto professor tenure, First Amendment

Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665 (1972): First Amendment, grand jury, journalists' rights

Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973): abortion, due process, privacy

Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973): freedom of speech, Miller test for obscenity

Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974): freedom of speech

United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974): judicial review, executive privilege, separation of powers

Milliken v. Bradley, 418 U.S. 717 (1974): segregation, busing

Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976): death penalty

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978): racial discrimination, affirmative action

FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, 438 U.S. 726 (1978): obscenity, FCC policing of obscenity

1980-1999

Consolidated Edison Co. v. Public Serv. Comm'n, 447 U.S. 530 (1980): freedom of speech (companies including information inserts with bills)

Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982): children of illegal immigrants may not be refused education

Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032 (1983): narrowed adequate and independent state ground

Sony Corp. v. Universal City Studios, 464 U.S. 417 (1984): copyright, VCR "time-shifting", fair use

Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984): public religious display on private property

Bernal v. Fainter, 467 U.S. 216 (1984): notary public need not be citizen

Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority, 469 U.S. 528 (1985): minimum wage laws apply to state government

Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985): school sponsorship of voluntary religious observances

Nix v. Whiteside, 475 U.S. 157 (1986): attorney-client privilege

Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986): peremptory challenge, racial discrimination

Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986)

Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986): homosexuality (later reversed); see also Texas v. Lawrence (2003)

Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987): Mandating teaching creation science if the theory of evolution is taught is unconstitutional

South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S. 203 (1987): Withholding of Federal highway funds to force state to raise drinking age to 21 is permissible

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988): freedom of speech in school newspaper

Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988): 1st Amendment; parody, emotional distress

Morrison v. Olson, 487 U.S. 654 (1988): independent counsel's office

Community For Creative Non-Violence v. Reid, 490 U.S. 730 (1989): Copyright, Work for hire

Martin v. Wilks, 490 U.S. 755 (1989)

Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989): freedom of speech (flag burning)

Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 492 U.S. 490 (1989): abortion rights

United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990): freedom of speech (flag burning)

Feist Publications v. Rural Telephone Service Co, 499 U.S. 340 (1991): creativity required for copyright protection

R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377 (1992): fighting words, hate speech

Lee v. Weisman, 505 U.S. 577 (1992)

Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992): abortion

Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah, 508 U.S. 520 (1993): animal cruelty, freedom of religion