35 Significant U.S. Supreme Court Cases

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John Peter Zenger Case

A landmark legal case in 1735 that established the precedent for freedom of the press in America. John Peter Zenger, a newspaper publisher, was acquitted of libel charges for publishing criticisms of the New York governor.

Marbury v. Madison

A significant Supreme Court case in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Fletcher v. Peck

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1810 that established the principle of protecting contracts from legislative interference, reinforcing the sanctity of contracts in American law.

McCulloch v. Maryland

A landmark Supreme Court case in 1819 that established the supremacy of federal over state law and affirmed the implied powers of Congress to create a national bank.

Dartmouth College v. Woodward

1819, ruled that the charter of Dartmouth College was a contract and protected under the Constitution, thus restricting state interference in private corporations.

Cohens v. Virginia

1821, confirmed the Supreme Court's authority to review state court decisions in cases involving federal law, thereby reinforcing federal power.

Gibbons v. Ogden

1824, ruled the federal government held exclusive power over interstate commerce, invalidating state laws that contradicted this authority.

Johnson v. McIntosh

1823, established that private citizens could not purchase land from Native Americans, only the federal government could do so.

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

1831, the Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee Nation was not a foreign nation but a dependent community, limiting their ability to sue in federal court.

Worcester v. Georgia

1832, the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Georgia could not impose its laws within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation, affirming the sovereignty of Native American tribes.

Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge

1837, the Supreme Court decided that the charter of a bridge company did not grant it an exclusive privilege to operate, promoting competition and public interest.

Commonwealth v. Hunt

1842, the Supreme Court ruled that labor unions had the right to organize and strike, establishing the legality of such activities.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

1857, the Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be considered citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories.

Ex parte Milligan

1866, the Supreme Court ruled that military tribunals could not try civilians when civil courts were available, affirming constitutional rights.

Wabash, St. Louis, and Pacific Railway Co. v. Illinois

1886, the Supreme Court ruled that states could not regulate interstate commerce, leading to increased federal oversight of railroads and commerce.

U.S. v. E.C. Knight Co.

1895, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not regulate manufacturing under the Sherman Antitrust Act, limiting federal power over monopolies.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896, the Supreme Court upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, legitimizing Jim Crow laws.

Insular Cases (Downes v. Bidwell)

1901, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution did not fully apply to U.S. territories, allowing for differing rights and privileges in these areas.

Northern Securities Co. v. U.S.

1904, the Supreme Court ruled against the Northern Securities Company, affirming that the federal government could dissolve monopolies under the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Lochner v. New York

1905, the Supreme Court struck down a state law regulating working hours for bakers, asserting that it violated the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Muller v. Oregon

1908, the Supreme Court upheld an Oregon law limiting women's working hours, recognizing the state's interest in protecting women's health.

Schneck v. U.S.

1919, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Charles Schenck for distributing anti-draft leaflets, ruling that free speech could be limited during wartime.

Adkins v. Children’s Hospital

1923, the Supreme Court voided a minimum wage law for women, arguing it violated the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment.

Schechter v. U.S.

1935, the Supreme Court ruled that the National Industrial Recovery Act was unconstitutional, stating that it gave too much legislative power to the President.

Korematsu v. U.S.

1944, the Supreme Court upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, ruling national security justified this action.

Ex parte Endo

1944, the Supreme Court ruled that the internment of Japanese Americans who were loyal to the U.S. was unconstitutional, emphasizing that the government had no authority to detain citizens without cause.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas

1954, the Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, stating that "separate but equal" violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. (UNANIMOUS)

Engel v. Wade

1962, the Supreme Court ruled that school-sponsored prayer in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Gideon v. Wainwright

1963, the Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel for defendants in criminal cases, even if they cannot afford an attorney.

Escobedo v. Illinois

1964, the Supreme Court ruled that a defendant has the right to counsel during police questioning and that statements made without an attorney present cannot be used in court.

Grisworld v. Connecticut

1965, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protects the right to marital privacy, striking down laws restricting access to contraceptives.

Miranda v. Arizona

1966, the Supreme Court established that individuals in police custody must be informed of their rights to an attorney and against self-incrimination before being interrogated.

Roe v. Wade

1973, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protects a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, establishing a legal framework based on trimester viability. (overturned)

U.S. v. Richard Nixon

1974, the Supreme Court ruled that the President is not above the law and must comply with judicial subpoenas, leading to Nixon's resignation.

Bakke v. Regents of the University of California

1978, the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action in college admissions is permissible, but quotas based on race are not. This case upheld the importance of diversity in educational institutions.