Notable decisions of the Supreme Court
1790-1819
Chisholm v. Georgia, 2 U.S. 419 (1793): first "major" case; federal jurisdiction over suits vs. states
Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803): judicial review of laws enacted by Congress
Stuart v. Laird, 5 U.S. 299 (1803): enforceability of rulings issued by judges who have since been removed from office
Ex Parte Bollman, 8 U.S. 75 (1807): habeas corpus, definition of treason, Supreme Court's power to issue writs to
circuit courts
Fletcher v. Peck, 10 U.S. 87 (1810): property rights
Martin v. Hunter's Lessee, 14 U.S. 304 (1816): Loyalist property forfeiture, Supreme Court review of state court
judgments
McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819): doctrine of implied powers
Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 17 U.S. 518 (1819): impairment of contracts
1820-1839
Cohens v. Virginia, 19 U.S. 264 (1821): judicial review of state supreme court decisions
Gibbons v. Ogden, 22 U.S. 1 (1824): Congressional power to regulate interstate commerce
Ogden v. Saunders, 25 U.S. 213 (1827): state bankruptcy law
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 30 U.S. 1 (1831): Indian nations as foreign states
Worcester v. Georgia, 31 U.S. 515 (1832): Indian removal
Barron v. Baltimore, 32 U.S. 243 (1833): reach of the Bill of Rights
1840-1859
United States v. The Amistad, 40 U.S. 518 (1841): slave trade and slave ownership (see Amistad)
Prigg v. Pennsylvania, 41 U.S. 539 (1842): runaway slaves
Dred Scott v. Sanford, 60 U.S. 393 (1856): slavery, citizenship
1860-1879
Ex Parte Milligan, 71 U.S. 2 (1866): habeas corpus, military tribunals
Ex Parte Garland, 71 U.S. 333 (1866): retroactive civil disability for former Confederate officers
Ex Parte McCardle, 74 U.S. 506 (1868): congressional power to limit Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction
United States v. Klein, 80 U.S. 128 (1871)
Slaughterhouse Cases, 83 U.S. 36 (1872): freedom of employment
Bradwell v. The State (of Illinois), 83 U.S. 130 (1872): equal protection, excluding women from employment
Minor v. Happersett, 88 U.S. 162 (1874):Fourteenth Amendment does not provide a right of Suffrage
United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 (1875): The First and Second Amendment do not apply to the States, despite
the Fourteenth Amendment
Munn v. Illinois, 94 U.S. 113 (1876)
1880-1899
Civil Rights Cases, 109 U.S. 3 (1883)
Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, 118 U.S. 394 (1886)
Wabash v. Illinois, 118 U.S. 557 (1886): individual states can not regulate interstate commerce
Dent v. West Virginia, 129 U.S. 114 (1889): state licensing of doctors
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad v. Minnesota, 134 U.S. 418 (1890): states and railway fees
Nix v. Hedden, 149 U.S. 304 (1893): status of tomato as fruit or vegetable
United States v. E. C. Knight Co., 156 U.S. 1 (1895): antitrust action; "Sugar Trust Case"
In re Debs, 158 U.S. 564 (1895): strikes and interstate commerce
Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co., 158 U.S. 601 (1895): income tax and tariffs
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896): segregation, "separate but equal"
United States v. Trans-Missouri Freight Association, 166 U.S. 290 (1897): railroads and rate fixing
Holden v. Hardy, 169 U.S. 366 (1898)
Hawker v. New York, 170 U.S. 189 (1898): character and doctor's licenses
United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898): citizenship and race
Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education, 175 U.S. 528 (1899): segregation in public schools
1900-1919
Insular Cases, (numerous): constitutional status of Puerto Rico and the Philippines
DeLima v. Bidwell, 182 U.S. 1 (1901)
Goetze v. United States, 182 U.S. 221 (1901)
Armstrong v. United States, 182 U.S. 243 (1901)
Downes v. Bidwell, 182 U.S. 244 (1901)
Huus v. New York & Porto Rico S.S. Co., 182 U.S. 392 (1901)
Dooley v. United States, 183 U.S. 151 (1901)
Fourteen Diamond Rings v. United States, 183 U.S. 176 (1901)
Hawaii v. Manikichi, 190 U.S. 197 (1903), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases
Kepner v. United States, 195 U.S. 100 (1904), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases
Dorr v. United States, 195 U.S. 138 (1904), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases
Gonzales v. Williams, 192 U.S. 1 (1904): Puerto Ricans and illegal aliens
Rasmussen v. United States, 197 U.S. 516 (1905), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases
Lochner v. New York, 198 U.S. 45 (1905): freedom of contract, substantive due process
Hale v. Henkel, 201 U.S. 43 (1906): witness testimony in antitrust cases
Northwestern National Life Insurance Co. v. Riggs, 203 U.S. 243 (1906)
Adair v. United States, 208 U.S. 161 (1908): "yellow-dog" contracts
Muller v. Oregon, 208 U.S. 412 (1908): protective labor laws, protection of women
Bobbs-Merrill Co v. Straus, 210 U.S. 339 (1908): Extension of copyright holder rights with license terms
Berea College v. Kentucky, 211 U.S. 45 (1908): state laws and segregation of educational facilities
United States v. Grimaud, 220 U.S. 506 (1911): Control of forest reserves
Dowdell v. United States, 221 U.S. 325 (1911), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases
Bauer & Cie. v. O'Donnell, 229 U.S. 1 (1913): No extending patent with license, no exclusive right by holder on "use"
of copyrighted works. Licesened and sold are the same thing if purchased as finished product.
Ocampo v. United States, 234 U.S. 91 (1914), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases
Guinn v. United States, 238 U.S. 347 (1915)
Buchanan v. Warley, 245 U.S. 60 (1917): racial covenants
Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918): Congressional power to regulate child labor under the Commerce Clause
International News Service v. Associated Press, 248 U.S. 215 (1918): determined whether there are any property rights
in news.
Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919): freedom of speech, "clear and present danger"
1920-1939
Missouri v. Holland, 252 U.S. 416 (1920): states' rights
Balzac v. Porto Rico[sic], 258 U.S. 298 (1922), sometimes considered one of the Insular Cases
Adkins v. Children's Hospital, 261 U.S. 525 (1923): freedom of contract, minimum wage laws
United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels (More or Less) Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar, 265 U.S. 438 (1924): Food and
Drug Act condemns misleading statements on packaging, even if literally true.
Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925): privacy
Gitlow v. New York, 268 U.S. 652 (1925)
Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52 (1926)
Buck v. Bell, 274 U.S. 200 (1927): compulsory sterilization, eugenics
Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927)
Near v. Minnesota, 283 U.S. 697 (1931): freedom of speech
Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45 (1932)
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, 295 U.S. 495 (1935): interstate commerce, New Deal
West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, 300 U.S. 379 (1937)]: freedom of contract, minimum wage laws, "the switch in time
that saved nine"
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company v. Johnson, 303 U.S. 77 (1938)
United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939)
1940-1959
Chambers v. Florida, 309 U.S. 227 (1940)
Edwards v. California, 314 U.S. 160 (1941): Interstate Commerce clause
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 (1942): fighting words
Betts v. Brady, 316 U.S. 455 (1942)
Skinner v. Oklahoma, 316 U.S. 535 (1942): compulsory sterilization, eugenics
Smith v. Allwright, 321 U.S. 649 (1944): voting rights, segregation
Korematsu v. United States, 323 U.S. 214 (1944): Japanese internment
Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947): First Amendment, Establishment of Religion
Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 (1948),: equal protection, racial covenants
United States v. National City Lines Inc., 334 U.S. 573 (1948): General Motors streetcar conspiracy
Wheeling Steel Corp. v. Glander, 337 U.S. 562 (1949): due process (Fourteenth Amendment), Interstate Commerce
clause
Wolf v. Colorado, 338 U.S. 25 (1949): Fourteenth Admendment, state court, evidence from unreasonable search and
seizure
Sweatt v. Painter, 339 U.S. 629 (1950): segregation, separate but equal
McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 339 U.S. 637 (1950): Fourteenth Amendment, segregation
Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494 (1951): First Amendment and the Smith Act
Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165 (1952): restriction of police power
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954): segregation , "separate inherently inequal"
Bolling v. Sharpe, 347 U.S. 497 (1954): segregation
Griffin v. Illinois, 351 U.S. 12 (1956): access to court transcript for indigent appeals
Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476 (1957): obscenity
NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 (1958): upheld NAACP refusal to provide membership lists to Alabama
1960-1979
Boynton v. Virginia, 364 U.S. 454 (1960): racial segregation
Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 488 (1961): oaths, religious test, 1st Amendment
Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961): search and seizure, exclusionary rule
Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962): reapportionment issues
Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962): school prayer
Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963): right to counsel
Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 (1963): criminal court appeal unavailable due to defendant poverty violates
Fourteenth Amendment
Abington School District v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963): mandatory bible reading in public school
Wesberry v. Sanders, 376 U.S. 1 (1964): size of districts
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964): freedom of speech, libel
Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964): population size of districts for state senates.
Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 U.S. 184 (1964): I know [obscenity] when I see it[.] - Justice Potter Stewart
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States, 379 U.S. 241 (1964): interstate commerce, civil rights, public
accommodations
Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965): privacy, birth control
Memoirs v. Massachusetts, 383 U.S. 413 (1966): ruling on obscenity
Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, 383 U.S. 663 (1966)
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966): self-incrimination, "you have the right to remain silent"
In Re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967): due process, juveniles
Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967): interracial marriage
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968): search and seizure, right of police to stop and frisk suspiciouspersons
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969): freedom of speech balanced
against discipline in public schools
Street v. New York, 394 U.S. 576 (1969)
Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 395 U.S. 367 (1969): Fairness Doctrine, broadcaster responsibilities, freedom of
speech
Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969): freedom of speech, incitement to riot
Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970): procedural due process, hearing requirement
Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971): employment discrimination; disparate impact of employer practices
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, 402 U.S. 1 (1971): busing authorized to establish school
desegregation
Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971): freedom of speech, fighting words/obscenity, "fuck the draft"
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971): establishment of religion, schools, "the Lemon test"
New York Times Co. v. United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971): freedom of the press, national security, Pentagon Papers
Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972): freedom of religion, high school education
Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972): death penalty, cruel and unusual punishment
Perry v. Sindermann, 408 U.S. 593 (1972): defacto professor tenure, First Amendment
Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665 (1972): First Amendment, grand jury, journalists' rights
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973): abortion, due process, privacy
Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973): freedom of speech, Miller test for obscenity
Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974): freedom of speech
United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974): judicial review, executive privilege, separation of powers
Milliken v. Bradley, 418 U.S. 717 (1974): segregation, busing
Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976): death penalty
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438 U.S. 265 (1978): racial discrimination, affirmative action
FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, 438 U.S. 726 (1978): obscenity, FCC policing of obscenity
1980-1999
Consolidated Edison Co. v. Public Serv. Comm'n, 447 U.S. 530 (1980): freedom of speech (companies including
information inserts with bills)
Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982): children of illegal immigrants may not be refused education
Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032 (1983): narrowed adequate and independent state ground
Sony Corp. v. Universal City Studios, 464 U.S. 417 (1984): copyright, VCR "time-shifting", fair use
Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984): public religious display on private property
Bernal v. Fainter, 467 U.S. 216 (1984): notary public need not be citizen
Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority, 469 U.S. 528 (1985): minimum wage laws apply to state
government
Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985): school sponsorship of voluntary religious observances
Nix v. Whiteside, 475 U.S. 157 (1986): attorney-client privilege
Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986): peremptory challenge, racial discrimination
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986)
Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986): homosexuality (later reversed); see also Texas v. Lawrence (2003)
Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987): Mandating teaching creation science if the theory of evolution is taught is
unconstitutional
South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S. 203 (1987): Withholding of Federal highway funds to force state to raise drinking age
to 21 is permissible
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988): freedom of speech in school newspaper
Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988): 1st Amendment; parody, emotional distress
Morrison v. Olson, 487 U.S. 654 (1988): independent counsel's office
Community For Creative Non-Violence v. Reid, 490 U.S. 730 (1989): Copyright, Work for hire
Martin v. Wilks, 490 U.S. 755 (1989)
Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989): freedom of speech (flag burning)
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 492 U.S. 490 (1989): abortion rights
United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990): freedom of speech (flag burning)
Feist Publications v. Rural Telephone Service Co, 499 U.S. 340 (1991): creativity required for copyright protection
R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377 (1992): fighting words, hate speech
Lee v. Weisman, 505 U.S. 577 (1992)
Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992): abortion
Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah, 508 U.S. 520 (1993): animal cruelty, freedom of religion
Alexander v. United States, 509 U.S. 544 (1993)
Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, 510 U.S. 569 (1994): copyright, commercial fair use is possible, parody
United States v. Shabani, 513 U.S. 10 (1994): Criminal conspiracy only requiires agreement and does not require an
overt act
United States v. Alfonso Lopez, Jr., 514 U.S. 549 (1995): interstate commerce, gun-free school zones
Adarand Constructors v. Peña, 515 U.S. 200 (1995): Race-based setasides must meet strict scrutiny test
44 Liquormart, Inc. v. State of Rhode Island, 517 U.S. 484 (1996): restrictions of promotion of alcohol
Romer v. Evans, 517 US 620 (1996): equal protection, homosexuality
Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U.S. 844 (1997): free speech, obscenity, CDA
Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, 523 U.S. 75 (1998): sexual harassment by same sex unlawful
Hunt v. Cromartie, 526 U.S. 541 (1999): gerrymandering
Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Board v. College Savings Bank, 527 U.S. 627 (1999): sovereign
immunity of the states
2000-present
United States v. Morrison 2000
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale 2000: right of free association, homosexuality
Bush v. Gore 2000: Vote recounts in presidential election
Easley v. Cromartie 2001: racial discrimination, gerrymandering
Republican Party of Minnesota v. White 2002: election of state judges, freedom of speech
Eldred v. Ashcroft 2003: copyright duration
Grutter v. Bollinger 2003: racial discrimination, affirmative action, equal protection
Gratz v. Bollinger 2003: racial discrimination, affirmative action, equal protection
Lawrence v. Texas 2003: liberty, due process, homosexuality
McConnell v. FEC 2003: Some political speech is not protected by the First Amendment
Doe v. Chao 2004: governmental violation of privacy rights
Intel Corp. v. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. 2004: foreign tribunals
Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow 2004: Validity of "under God" in Pledge of Allegiance; standing to bring
suit on another's behalf.
Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada 2004: State law permitted to require citizens to identify themselves to
police.
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld 2004: detention of American citizens
Rasul v. Bush 2004: jurisdiction over foreign nationals detained in Guantanamo Bay
Blakely v. Washington 2004: right to jury trial, judge-enhanced criminal sentences
Cases awaiting decision
Central Laborers' Pension Fund v. Heinz 2004: an ambiguity in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
United States v. Benitez 2004: the responsibility of a defendant in the case of a violation of Federal Rule of Criminal
Procedure 11
Department of Transportation v. Public Citizen 2004: Presidential foreign affairs and foreign trade Actions
Rumsfeld v. Padilla 2004: detention of American citizens