Andy Brown Landmark SCOTUS Cases Assignment

Marbury v Madison

Feb 24, 1803

This is likely the most important case in SCOTUS history as it established the power of judicial review and gave the Judicial Branch the power it has today.

Dred Scott v Sandford

Mar 6, 1857

This case is one of the most important regarding slavery and the Civil War. This case said that a slave was not a citizen and therefore did not have constitutional rights. This case is often quoted as the lowest point in SCOTUS history.

Korematsu v United States

Dec 18, 1944

This case was involving the treatment of Japanese Americans and their placement in concentration camps. This is, along with Dred Scott, one of the definite worst decisions in SCOTUS and US history. Discrimination based solely on race is never acceptable even in times of war.

Brown v Board (Plessy v Ferguson)

May 17, 1954

The case of Brown v Board overruled the previous case, Plessy v Ferguson, which established the 'Separate but Equal' ruling. Plessy v Ferguson said that as long as blacks had the same equipment, no matter the equipment, they were treated fairly. Brown v Board said that separate was inherently unequal and made integration the law.

Wesberry v Sanders

Feb 17, 1964

This case said that congressional districts have to be made up of roughly equal population, something that I didn't realize was a thing from the start.

Loving v Virginia

Jun 12, 1967

This case, along with Obergefell v Hodges, is cases that involve the legality of marriage. These are good cases of federalism as it is the Federal Court ruling on one of the few solely state issues. Obergefell v Hodges and Loving v Virginia both say that the fourteenth amendment protects against marriage discrimination, the former legalizing same-sex marriage and the latter legalizing interracial marriage.

Roe v Wade

Jan 22, 1973

This case made abortion legal but allowed for some restrictions. This ruled that the fourteenth amendment did give a limited right to privacy and therefore, abortion. This case also is considered to be controversial in its decision and some call it the beginning of modern judicial activism.

United States v Nixon

Jul 24, 1974

This case came after the Watergate Scandal and said that while a president does indeed have executive privilege, it can not be used in criminal cases. Invented the term "No person is above the law, not even the president."

Bush v Gore

Dec 12, 2000

This case is so far the only case that has decided a presidential election when it ruled out the possibility of a recount. Under Florida's Constitution, the results automatically qualified for a recount due to how close the race was. The Florida governor, George Bush's brother Jeb!, said that a recount wasn't necessary and the conservative court agreed. This is another famous instance of judicial activism.

Citizens United v FEC

Jan 21, 2010

This case is perhaps the most influential case regarding elections today. This case said that money and spending counts a free speech and there imposes no limit on campaign spending on ads in elections. This created the infamous super PAC which has no limit on donations compared to the normal PAC.

Obergefell v Hodges

Jun 26, 2015

This case, along with Loving v Virginia, is cases that involve the legality of marriage. These are good cases of federalism as it is the Federal Court ruling on one of the few solely state issues. Obergefell v Hodges and Loving v Virginia both say that the fourteenth amendment protects against marriage discrimination, the former legalizing same-sex marriage and the latter legalizing interracial marriage.