Marbury v. Madison (1803) – Established Judicial Review, the Supreme Court’s right to
determine the constitutionality of a law. (“midnight appointments,” forcing Jefferson to
deliver his commission, increased the influence of the Supreme Court)
Fletcher v. Peck (1810) – Established that states cannot alter contracts. (1st time Supreme
Court ruled a state law unconstitutional, although the land was sold illegally, once a contract was
made it cannot be revoked)
Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819) – The sanctity of contracts is
reaffirmed. (Dartmouth College, New Hampshire Legislature wants to appoint Trustees 
altered the school/convert it from a private to public institution, Charter as contract can not be
altered)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) – Establishes the supremacy of Federal law over state
law. (Maryland imposed a tax on the Second Bank of the United States, Congress had the right
to create the National Bank under the “Commerce Clause,” Maryland had no right to impede
Congress  tax was struck down)
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) – Congress has the right to regulate interstate commerce.
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831) – The Court determined that it could not rule on the
case, as the Cherokee tribe was a “denominated domestic dependent nation.” (tribe was not
a stateno jurisdiction =no rule on the case)
Worcester v. Georgia (1832) – The Federal government, not the states, can make laws with
respect to Indian tribes.
Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge (1837) – Established a policy of relatively narrow
interpretation of contracts. The decision favored also technological progress. .
Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842) – Federal law is superior to state law. (establishes that Federal
agents were required to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act, undercutting its effectiveness)
Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842) – Established the legality of labor unions.
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1856) – Determined that descendants of slaves are not US citizens.
Bradwell v. Illinois (1873) – The right to practice law is not one of the privileges guaranteed
in the 14th Amendment. This ruling effectively validated discrimination against women in
hiring decisions.
Munn v. Illinois (1877) – States can regulate business when it is in the interest of the public
good. Wabash Case (1886) – Only the Federal government can regulate interstate
commerce. (creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission)
United States v. E.C. Knight Co. (1895) – The Sherman Antitrust Act doesn’t apply to
manufacturing companies (only distribution), as they cannot restrict commerce.
Pollock v. The Farmers’ Loan and Trust Co. (1895) – Income taxes are unconstitutional, as
they are direct taxes that are not correctly divided among the states. (overturned by 16th
Amendment which legalized income taxes)
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) – Segregation based on race is legal as long as accommodations
are “Separate but Equal.”
Williams v. Mississippi (1898) – Established the legality of poll taxes and literacy tests.
"Insular Cases" / Downes v. Bidwell (1901) – The Constitution does not necessarily apply
in matters concerning US Territories. (Constitution only applies to “integral parts” of the US)
Lochner v. New York (1905) – States cannot regulate labor conditions, as such regulation
violates a citizen’s right to make contracts. (Initiated Lochner Era Court ruled against
Progressive Era laws that sought to regulate working conditions)
Muller v. Oregon (1908) – Laws limiting the number of hours women can work are valid,
as women require different considerations that men.
Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918) – Overturned child labor laws and established that only
states have the right to regulate the production of goods.
Schenck v. United States (1919) – Speech is not protected by the Constitution when it poses
a “Clear and Present Danger” (war) to the welfare of the nation.
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States (1936) – Established that the National Industrial
Recovery Act created during the New Deal was unconstitutional.
Korematsu v. United States (1944) – Restrictions on the rights of people of Japanese
descent were validated because of the perceived threat to the safety of the United States.
Smith v. Allwright (1944) – African Americans are guaranteed the right to vote in primary
elections.
Sweatt v. Painter (1950) – Determined that segregated law schools could not be “Separate
but Equal,” and allowed African Americans to attend such schools with whites.
Brown v. Board of Education I (1952) – Invalidated segregation laws, as separate facilities
were inherently unequal.
Brown v. Board of Education II (1954) – Ordered desegregation of public facilities with
“all deliberate speed.”
Roth v. United States (1957) – Publications deemed “obscene” are not protected by
Freedom of Speech.
Engel v. Vitale (1962) – Laws authorizing prayers at the start of school, even if they are
voluntary and non-denominational, are unconstitutional. T
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) – The court has a responsibility to appoint a lawyer to defend
people who cannot afford to pay for one.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) – Suspects must be informed of their rights before interrogation
can begin.
Furman v. Georgia (1972) – The death penalty is a cruel and unusual punishment in some
circumstances.
Roe v. Wade (1973) – Established that women have the right to get an abortion during the
first trimester of their pregnancy.