Landmark
Supreme
Court Cases
Marbury v Madison
(1803)
Significance: The power of
judicial review was given to the
Supreme Court.
McCulloch v. Maryland
(1819)
Significance: Congress can
write laws “necessary and
proper” to carry out its
constitutional powers.
Dred Scott v. Sanford
(1857)
Significance: Slaves were
considered property and not
citizens.
Plessy v Ferguson
(1896)
Significance: Separate was
equal and segregation was legal.
Korematsu v. United States
(1944)
Significance: The President and
Congress had the right to label an entire
race as “suspect” because the issues
concerning national security and therefore
detain them.
Brown v. Board of Education
(1954)
Significance: Separate was
NOT equal and segregation is
illegal. This case overturned
Plessy v Ferguson.
Gideon v. Wainwright
(1963)
Significance: States must provide
an attorney in all felony and capital
cases for people who cannot afford
one themselves.
Miranda v. Arizona
(1966)
Significance: Police must inform
suspects that they have the right to remain
silent, that anything they say may be used
against them, and that they have the right to
counsel before the police may begin to
question those held in custody.
Kent v United States
(1966)
Significance: Teens can be tried
as adults for serious crimes.
Tinker v. Des Moines School District
(1969)
Significance: Students are entitled
to the free expression of their views as
long as there is no substantial or
material interference of the educational
process.
Ingraham v Wright
(1977)
Significance: Teachers can use
corporal punishment if the
locality allows it.
New Jersey v T.L.O.
(1985)
Significance: Your belongings
can be searched at school if
school officials have
“reasonable suspicion”.
Vernonia School District v Action
(1995)
Significance: Schools can
require student-athletes to take
drug tests.
Grutter v Bollinger
(2003)
Significance: Colleges can use
race as a factor in admissions.