Landmark Supreme Court Cases

Marbury v Madison

courts can declare laws unconstitutional, established judicial review

McCulloch v Maryland

congress can create a national bank and states can’t tax it, strengthened federal power

Gibbons v Ogden

Congress controls interstate trade, gave federal government power over business between states

Dred Scott v Sanford

Slaves are property and not citizens, strengthened slavery and led to the Civil War

Plessy v Furguson

“separate but equal” is legal, allowed segregation

Korematsu v United States

Japanese internment is legal during wartime, allowed racial discrimination during emergencies

Brown v Board of Education

“separate but equal” is unconstitutional in school, ended segregation in schools

Mapp v Ohio

Illegally obtained evidence can’t be used in court, strengthened protection from unlawful searches

Engel v Vitale

No school-led prayers in public schools, strengthened separation of search and state

Gideon v Wainright

everyone has the right to a lawyer, expanded rights of the excused

Escobedo v Illinois

suspects can have a lawyer before police questioning, strengthened rights during interrogations

Miranda v Arizona

Police must read you your rights, established Miranda Rights

Swann v Charlotte Mecklenburg

Busing can be used to integrate schools, helped desegregate schools

In re Gault

juveniles have legal rights in court, protected kids in the justice system

Tinker v Des Moines

students can protest if it doesn’t disrupt school, strengthened student free speech

New York Times v U.S.

government can’t stop newspapers from publishing information, limited government censorship

Furman v Georgia

death penalty was unfairly applied, temporarily stopped the death penalty

Roe v Wade

women have the right to abortion, legalized abortion natiowide

United States v Nixon

the president is not above the law, forced Nixon to release watergate tapes

Wallace v Jaffree

no state-mandated school prayer (moment of silence)

New Jersey v T.L.O.

schools can search students with reason, gave schools more power over student privacy

Bethel v Fraser

schools can limit inappropriate student speech, schools can punish the students

Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier

schools can censor school newspapers, limited student press rights

Texas v Johnson

flag burning is protected speech, strengthened free expression

Vernonia v Acton

schools can drug test student-athletes, allowed drug testing in school

Bush v Gore

stopped Florida recount in 2000, decided the 2000 presidential election

Citizens United v FEC

corporations can spend unlimited money on elections, increased corporate influence in politics

Obergefell v Hodges

same-sex marriage is legal, marriage rights for LGBTQ+ couples