Judicial Branch

Marbury v. Madison

Established Supreme Court's power of judicial review over Congress.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Established federal government's implied powers over states.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Denied citizenship to African American slaves.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Upheld 'separate but equal' segregation laws in states.

Korematsu v. United States

Upheld internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Brown v. Board of Education

Declared separating black and white students in public schools unconstitutional.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Established criminal defendants' right to an attorney even if they cannot afford one.

Miranda v. Arizona

Ruled that prisoners must be informed of their rights before police questioning.

Loving v. Virginia

Invalidated state laws banning interracial marriage.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

Upheld using race as a factor in college admissions.

Roe v. Wade

Established women's constitutional right to abortion in the first two trimesters.

District of Columbia v. Heller

Affirmed citizens' right to possess firearms at home for self-defense.

McDonald v. City of Chicago

Confirmed individual right to 'keep and bear arms' under the Second Amendment.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts in elections.

United States v. Windsor

Mandated federal government to provide benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

Obergefell v. Hodges

Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Supreme Court

Court that only reviews some cases, usually about the Constitution

Court of Appeals

Reviews cases to see if the trial court made a mistake

District Court

The trial court in the Federal system

Federal Courts

Courts that hear disputes about laws that apply to the entire United States

State Courts

Courts that hear disputes about the laws of one state

Trial Court

Court that hears a case for the first time

Evidence

Objects or information used in court to prove what really happened

Criminal Case

A case involving someone who is accused of committing a crime

Civil Case

A case involving a disagreement where one side believes the other side violated their rights somehow

Jury Trial

A trial where a group of people listens to the evidence and decides the case

Bench Trial

A trial where only the judge hears the evidence and decides the case

Verdict

The decision at the end of a case

Appellate Courts

Courts above the trial court

Appeal

Asking a higher court to review a case

Affirm

When an appellate court decides no mistake was made

Reverse

When an appellate court overturns the trial court's verdict

Remand

When an appellate court sends a case back to the trial court

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to decide what the Constitution really says

Associate Justice Ketanji Jackson

BIDEN 2022

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas

GHWBUSH 91

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

GWBUSH 2005

Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett

TRUMP 2020

Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.

BUSH JR 2006

Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch

TRUMP 2017

Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor

OBAMA 2009

Associate Justice Elena Kagan

OBAMA 2010

Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh

TRUMP 18