landmark court cases

dred scott v sanford (1857)

slaves are property, denied citizenship to slaves

plessy v ferguson (1896)

jim crow segregation laws are constitutional under the doctrine of “separate but equal”

korematsu v united states (1944)

the internment of japanese americans was rules as justified

brown v board of education (1954)

racial segregation in schools is unconstitutional

mapp v ohio (1961)

evidence that is illegally obtained by the state may not be used against a defendant in court

gideon v wainwright (1963)

defendants in criminal cases have an absolute right to a lawyer

miranda v arizona (1966)

a suspect must be informed of their rights upon arrest before being questioned

loving v virginia (1967)

invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage

terry v ohio (1968)

legalized “stop and frisk” if there is reasonable suspicion

tinker v des moines school district (1969)

the court recognized that symbolic speech, such as the wearing of symbols (armbands) or the style of one’s clothing was closely akin to pure speech

brandenburg v ohio (1969)

speech advocating illegal conduct is protected under the first amendment

roe v wade (1973)

the constitutionally implied right to privacy protects a woman’s choice in matters of abortion

united states v nixon (1974)

determined that the president is not above the law and must comply with subpoenas.

regents of the university of california v bakke

set the guidelines for affirmative action in college admissions, allowing race to be one of several factors.

pruneyard shopping center v robins (1980)

upheld the right of individuals to engage in free speech in a privately owned shopping center.

new jersey v tlo (1985)

established the standard for searches by school officials, allowing searches based on reasonable suspicion.

citizens united v federal elections commissions (2010)

the court ruled that “money equals speech” and that a corporation is a “person” and can now spend unlimited amounts of money in elections

morse v frederick (2007)

“bong hits 4 jesus” case, which addressed student free speech rights at school-sponsored events.

obergefell v hodges (2015)

legalized same-sex marriage nationwide by ruling that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.

dobbs v jackson women’s health organization (2022)

overturned roe v wade, removing the federal right to abortion and allowing states to regulate abortion laws.

trump v united states (2024)

a pending case debating the legal protections of former presidents and their actions while in office.