Extra Cases

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

The Court struck down a Connecticut law banning contraceptives, ruling it violated the right to marital privacy. This case established a constitutional "right to privacy," which laid the groundwork for future reproductive rights cases.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

The Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide by ruling that a woman’s right to choose an abortion fell under the constitutional right to privacy. This landmark decision protected abortion access during the first two trimesters of pregnancy.

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

The Court reaffirmed the core holding of Roe v. Wade but allowed states to impose restrictions on abortion as long as they didn’t place an "undue burden" on the woman. It shifted the standard for evaluating abortion laws, giving states more regulatory power.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022)

The Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ruling there is no constitutional right to abortion, returning the issue to individual states. This marked a major shift in reproductive rights, allowing states to ban or severely restrict abortion access.

Riley v. California (2014)

The Supreme Court ruled that police must obtain a warrant before searching digital information on a cell phone seized during an arrest. The case significantly expanded digital privacy rights under the Fourth Amendment.

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

The Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess firearms for lawful purposes, such as self-defense in the home. This was a major ruling affirming gun rights on a personal, rather than militia-based, level.

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

The Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag is protected speech under the First Amendment. This decision reinforced the protection of controversial or offensive expression in free speech jurisprudence.

Furman v. Georgia (1972)

The Court struck down the death penalty as it was being applied, finding it was arbitrary and discriminatory, violating the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. This led to a temporary halt of capital punishment across the U.S.

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

The Court reinstated the death penalty, ruling it is constitutional if applied through a careful, guided process. This decision upheld capital punishment with new procedural safeguards.

Atkins v. Virginia (2002)

The Court ruled that executing individuals with intellectual disabilities violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. This set a constitutional limit on who could be eligible for the death penalty.

Roper v. Simmons (2005)

The Supreme Court decided that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty for crimes committed by individuals under 18. This ruling acknowledged evolving standards of decency and protected juvenile offenders from capital punishment.