POLI 100 Civil Rights & Liberties Supreme Court Cases

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

Ruled that African-Americans are not citizens, whether free or enslaved.

Civil Rights/Citizenship

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Upheld racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Civil Rights/Equal Protection

Smith v. Allwright (1944)

Addressed and invalidated the white primary.

Civil Rights/Voting Rights

Sweatt v. Painter (1950)

Found that the concept of separate but equal could be unconstitutional in higher education, prior to the major ruling on schools.

Civil Rights/Equal Protection

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

A 9-0 decision ruling that 'separate educational facilities are inherently unequal'.

Civil Rights/Equal Protection (14th Amendment)

Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

Got rid of Section 4 (the coverage formula) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, thereby also affecting Section 5 (pre-clearance requirements).

Voting Rights

Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard/UNC (2023)

The case deals with Affirmative Action in schools.

Civil Rights/Affirmative Action

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

Overturned Bowers v. Hardwick (1986) concerning sodomy laws and the right to privacy.

Right to Privacy (14th Amendment Due Process)

Bowers v. Hardwick (1986)

Related to sodomy laws; it was overturned by Lawrence v. Texas in 2003.

Right to Privacy

United States v. Windsor (2013)

Ruled the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional.

Gay Rights/Right to Privacy

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Associated with legalizing same-sex marriage.

Gay Rights/Same-sex Marriage

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established the 'clear and present danger' test.

Free Speech (1st Amendment)

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Ruled that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable (flag burning).

Free Speech (1st Amendment)

Roth v. United States (1957)

Ruled a work was obscene if it was 'utterly without redeeming social importance,' and appealed to 'prurient interests' using contemporary community standards.

Free Speech/Obscenity

Near v. Minnesota (1931)

Ruled that the government cannot restrain the press (prior restraint). Noted for the incorporation of press liberty via the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process clause.

Freedom of the Press (1st Amendment)

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Associated with balancing national security concerns against press freedom.

Freedom of the Press/National Security

Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)

Established the Lemon Test; struck down a PA law allowing public funds to reimburse private schools for teacher pay.

Freedom of Religion (Establishment Clause)

Board of Ed. Kiryas Joel v. Grumet (1994)

Established the neutrality test; ruled that the drawing of school districts cannot aid religion.

Freedom of Religion (Establishment Clause)

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled school prayer unconstitutional.

Freedom of Religion (Establishment Clause)

Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940)

Ruled that the government cannot regulate proselytizing.

Freedom of Religion (Exercise Clause)

Employment Division, Oregon v. Smith (1990)

Ruled that general laws must be upheld, even if they infringe on religion.

Freedom of Religion (Exercise Clause)

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Required that defendants be advised of their constitutional rights before police interrogation (right to remain silent, right to a lawyer, warning that statements can be used against them, and right to end interrogation).

Fifth Amendment (Self-Incrimination/Due Process)

Furman v. Georgia (1972)

Temporarily outlawed the Death Penalty (DP).

Eighth Amendment (Cruel and Unusual Punishment/Death Penalty)

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Reinstated the Death Penalty.

Eighth Amendment (Death Penalty)

Roper v. Simmons (2005)

Ruled against Executing Minors.

Eighth Amendment (Death Penalty)

Atkins v. Virginia (2002)

Ruled against the Execution of those with mental retardation.

Eighth Amendment (Death Penalty)

Baze v. Rees (2008)

Addressed the Manner of execution (specifically lethal injection methods).

Eighth Amendment (Death Penalty)

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

Found a constitutional right of marital privacy against state restrictions on the use of contraceptives.

Right to Privacy (9th Amendment/Marital Privacy)

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Established a fundamental 'right to privacy' that protected a woman's right to abortion, allowing states to regulate abortion once the fetus reached 'viability' (trimesters).

Right to Privacy (14th Amendment Due Process/Abortion)

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

Upheld regulations like informed consent and a 24-hour waiting period, introducing the 'undue burden' standard.

Right to Privacy (Abortion)

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2023)

This case is associated with the overturn of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Right to Privacy (Abortion)

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

Ruled the DC's ban on handguns unconstitutional and addressed the incorporation of the 2nd amendment.

Second Amendment (Right to Keep and Bear Arms)