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Marbury v. Madison
Federalist John Adams was beat out by Thomas Jefferson for Presidency. John Marshall failed to deliver commissions to the Jefferson administration for seven justices of peace including William Marbury, so he sued James Madison. The court was in favor of Marbury because of the writ of mandamus. This affected our country because Marshall established the judicial branch as an equal partner with the executive and legislative branches of the government. -
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Landmark Supreme Court Cases
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McCullouch v. Maryland
James McCullouch, a branch employee, refused to pay the tax. The State of Maryland sued McCullouch saying that Maryland had the power to tax any business in its state. The court was in favor of Maryland because he was violating Maryland's tax law. This effected our country because now some powers are shared by the national and the state levels of government. This allows each levels of government to have the money they need to provide services. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was purchased in Missouri and was brought to Illinois, which is a free (non-slave) state. Then they went back to Missouri, where his owner died, and now he is suing the widow saying he was no longer a slave since he was living in a free state. The court was in favor of Sandford until they took it to Sumpreme court and they ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This effected the US because it help put an end to slavery. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Homer Plessy was arrested for being one-eighth black, for buying a first-class to sit in the white-designated railroad car, while under the Separate Car Act. The court was in favor of John Ferguson because he declared that the law was constitutional for trains running within the state and found Plessy guilty. This effected our country because it showed how "our constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens..."(Justice Harlan's Dissent) -
Korematsu v. U.S.
After Pearl Harbor was bombed, Americans were worried that Americans of Japanesse decent would side with the Japanesse. So Americans placed Japanesse-Americans in internment camps and later Korematsu challenged his conviction in the courts saying that Congress, the President, and the military authorities did not have power to issue the relocation orders. The court ruled in the favor of the U.S. This changed the country dramatically. -
Brown v. Board of Ed.
Linda Brown and her family believed that the segregated school system violated the Fourteenth Amendment and took their case to court. The Browns appealed their case to Supreme Court stating that even if the facilities were similar, segregated schools could never be equal to one another. The court was in favor of Brown. This made our country have equal public schools. -
Mapp v. Ohio
Suspicious that Dollree Mapp might be hiding a person suspected in a bombing, the police went to her home in Cleveland, Ohio. They wanted to search her house, but she refused because they needed a warrant and they made one up. After this they found pornographic materials and arrested her for possession of obscene materials. The court was in favor of Mapp. This changed the country dramatically especially with the issue of privacy. -
Gideon v. Wainwright
Clarence Earl Gideon was accused for breaking and entering and was arrested. Gideon was unable to afford a lawyer and ask the judge to appoint him one. Gideon argued to the court that sixth amendment says that everyone is entitled to a lawyer. The judge denied his request and he poorly defended himself. So they took this to the supreme court. The court was in favor of Gideon because it was a fundamental right. This impacted the country because we now can be appointed lawyers if we are broke. -
Miranda v. Arizona
Ernesto Miranda was a poor Mexican Immigrant living in Arizona, who was arrested for a crime after he was identified in a lineup. He was charged with rape and kidnapping and was interrogated for two hours while in police custody. He was not read his rights. His attorney argued that his confession should have been excluded from trial because of that and his attorney was not present during interrogation. The court was in favor of Miranda. This made a impact because everybody is read their rights. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Two students, one Mary Beth Tinker, wore black armbands to their public school as a symbol of protest against American Involvement in the Vietnam War. When the authorities asked them to remove their armbands, they refused and were subsequently suspended. The court was in favor of Tinker becuase of the 1st amendment. This made an impact because we are now able to use symbolic speech. -
Roe v. Wade
Jane Roe was an unmarried and pregnant Texas resident in 1970. Texas made a law that said you can not kill your unborn baby or you will go to jail. Roe filed suit against Wade, district attorney of Dallas County. The court was in favor of Roe because it is the woman choice. This made a big impact on the country because abortion is now legal. -
New Jersey v. T.L.O.
A New Jersey high school student was accused of violating school rules by smoking in the bathroom. The assistant principal went to search the student's purse for cigarettes. They found marijuana in her possession, but a desire for evidence of smoking in the restroom did not justify the search. The court was in favor of New Jersey because it was associated with school grounds. The impact it made on the country was big with education. -
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Hazelwood East High School procedurally reviewed the Spectrum, which is the school newspaper, before publication. He decided to take out certain pages because it was inappropiate content in two articles. The journalism students felt that this censorship was a direct violation of their 1st Amendment rights. The court was in favor of Hazelwood. This impacted the country because the students are unable to speak inappropiately in school. -
Texas v. Johnson
Gregory Lee Johnson participated in a political demonstration during the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, in 1984. They set the flag on fire to show they were against the policies of the Reagan Administration and of certain corporations. No one was hurt or threatened with injury, but people were seriously offended. So Johnson was charged. The court was in favor of Johnson because of the 1st Amendment rights. This made a impact on the country becuase we are able to burn flags.
