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Supreme Court Milestones
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John Jay
In 1789, Washington appointed John Jay the first Chief Justice of the new Supreme Court. Jay agreed wih Justice James Wilson's opinion in Chisholm v. Georgia, which led to the passing of the Eleventh Amendment.This is significant because the 11th Amendment prevents individuals from bringing law suits against states, which has helped give the government freedom to do its job without fear of lawsuits. -
John Marshall
John Marshall was the longest serving and possibly most influential Chief Justice in history. Marshall made several decisions that increased the position of the judiciary branch, as well giving federal courts the power to strike out any law that violates the Constitution. This has protected our government from straying too far from the framework set up by the Founding Fathers. -
Creation of the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court became an institution that would defend the legislative branch from the executive, and vice versa. The Supreme Court now has the final say in all legal matters in the US. The justices decide if legislation is constitutional or not, as well as deciding private and public cases. Without the Supreme Court, the system of checks and balances wold not exist, and our government would be lopsided in power. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison was the first time the Supreme Court declared something unconstitutional, and established the idea that courts may oversee and nullify the actions of another branch of government. This landmark decision helped define the checks and balances of the government. -
Fletcher v. Peck
Fletcher v. Peck was one of the first cases in which the Supreme Court ruled a state law unconstitutional, the decision also helped create a growing precedent for the security of legal contracts. This ruling said that a contract was binding, even if illegally secured. This was a very important development in the increasing number of business contracts. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
Dartmouth College v. Woodward greatly encouraged business investment and growth. If states can't pass laws to impair business charters, then businesses are more secure. They are also more able to attract investors, employ workers, and to add to economic growth. The decision settled the nature of public versus private charters and resulted in the rise of the American business corporation. -
McCollough v. Maryland
The state of Maryland had attempted to impede operation of a branch of the Second Bank of the United States by imposing a tax on all notes of banks not chartered in Maryland. The Court decided that the Constitution grants to Congress implied powers for implementing the Constitution's express powers, in order to create a functional national government. Also, state laws may not impede valid constitutional exercises of power by the federal government. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
The Supreme Court of the United States held that the power to regulate interstate commerce was granted to Congress by the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. Interstate commerce issues became the domain of the federal government instead of causing issues between states. -
Worcester v. Georgia
Worcester v. Georgia was a case in which the United States Supreme Court nullified the conviction of Samuel Worcester, deciding that the Georgia law, prohibiting non-Indians from being present on Indian lands without a license from the state, was unconstitutional. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott v. Sandford was a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that people of African descent imported into the United States and held as slaves (or their descendants, whether or not they were slaves) were not protected by the Constitution and could never be U.S. citizens. The court also held that the U.S. Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories and that, because slaves were not citizens, they they could not sue in court.
