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Supreme Court of the United States

Resources about the U.S. Supreme Court

19th Century Cases

Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established the doctrine of judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
The Constitution gives the federal government certain implied powers.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
Clarification of the federal right to regulate interstate commerce

Dred Scott v. Heller (1857)
People of African heritage, whether slaves or free were not and could not be citizens of the United States

Plessey v. Ferguson (1896)

20th Century Cases

Korematsu v. U.S. (1944)

S.C upheld the law that all loyal U.S. citizens of Japanese heritage must relocate to camps away for the west coast of te United States. 

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Separate schools are not equal - public schools must admit children of all races.

Cooper v. Aaron (1958)
States cannot nullify decisions of the federal courts.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Illegally obtained materials cannot be used in a criminal trial.

Griswold  v.  Connecticut  1965

States cannot make the use of contraceptives by married couples illegal.

Brady v. Maryland (1963)

Prosecution must turn over all evidence that may exonerate the defendant to the defense. 

Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 

Police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning.

Terry v. Ohio (1968)
Stop and frisks do not violate the Constitution under certain circumstances.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Legalizes abortion nationwide.

U.S. v. Nixon (1974)
The President is not above the law.

Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Even offensive speech such as flag burning is protected by the First Amendment.

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
Court strikes down the “Homosexual Conduct” law