U.S. Supreme Court rulings that have a significant impact on society are often referred to as "Landmark decisions" or "Landmark cases". The following list summarizes a few cases that had the most significant impact on history and society. You can access a longer list of cases via Related Questions, below.
Upheld the right of Marbury to occupy the position of justice of the peace of a certain district because the President (Madison) signed and sealed the appointment, despite Congress' attempt to block the appointment. This was the first time the Supreme Court formally defined its role as a court of review. They also admonished Congress for trying to legislate greater authority to the Court than the Constitution allowed.
Upheld the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States, based on the "spirit of the Constitution," rather than on a literal interpretation of the articles.
Invalidated a monopoly enacted by New York state with regard to operating steamboats in state waters. Established the principle that Federal law supersedes state law.
Declares a Georgia state law requiring residents of Cherokee territory to obtain a permit for living on the land because the demand conflicted with a federal treaty.
Freed Africans who had been enslaved in violation of Spanish law, and who had mutinied against the captain and crew of the Spanish ship, Amistad.
Ruled neither slave nor free African-Americans were citizens of the United States, and were not entitled to sue in federal court. Also ruled that freemen traveling through slave-holding states had no right to freedom if captured. Also ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional because it deprived people of property without due process.
Declared military courts unconstitutional in areas where civil courts were in operation. Stated the U.S. Constitution applies regardless of peace or war.
Ruled that the 14th Amendment applied only to federal violations of individual rights, and that states were exempt. Also held that equal protection applied only to state laws discriminating against African-Americans.
Held that Congress had no right to impose laws requiring equal treatment for African-Americans on private businesses.
First of the "Granger Cases."Upheld states' rights to regulate businesses that involved the public interest.
Struck down a state law regulating transportation contracts because the federal government held sole jurisdiction over interstate commerce.
Famous decision that allowed "separate but equal" accommodations for African-Americans and Whites, on the grounds that segregation didn't deprive African-Americans of protection under the 14th Amendment.
Struck down a state law enforcing 10-hour workdays on bakery workers because it interfered with the employees' 14th Amendment right to liberty by denying employees the ability to negotiate employment contracts with their employer.
Ruled that the WW I Espionage Act did not violate the First Amendment protection of free speech, stating that anti-war pamphlets encouraged resistance to the draft. This was the famous case that cited "clear and present danger" as a reasonable restriction on free speech.
In contrast to the Court's earlier rulings that the Constitution only applied to the federal government, decided the 14th Amendment made the First Amendment protection of speech and the press applicable to the states.
Overturned the Alabama state conviction of the "Scottsboro Boys," nine African-American boys convicted in the rape of two white women because the boys had been denied due process when the judge declined to provide them with a defense attorney.
Struck down the National Industrial Recovery Act because it delegated excessive authority of the U.S. President to regulate businesses not involved in interstate commerce.
In support of Roosevelt's New Deal, the Court reversed its position Adkins v. Children's Hospital, and upheld a Washington state minimum wage law.
Upheld the National Labor Relations Act against a manufacturer that engaged in unfair labor practices by punishing or firing union members in an attempt to break the union.
Upheld the U.S. policy of holding Japanese Americans in interment camps, except in the case where the person's loyalty had already been established.
Ruled that President Truman exceeded his authority by seizing steel manufacturers without the specific approval of Congress, in order to avert a strike by the United Steel Workers of America that would have disrupted arms production during the Korean War. (Also referred to as The Steel Seizure Case)
Ruled unanimously that segregation in the schools was unconstitutional, a move that overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision advocating "separate but equal" facilities for African-American and White citizens. Held that Brown experienced stigmatizing discrimination when denied enrollment in a school near her home.
Ruled that evidence obtained without a warrant or by any other unethical means was a 4th Amendment violation, and that the evidence may not be admitted in court.
The court reversed its stance on cases involving "political questions," that cannot be tried in court, and decided citizens had a right to challenge political redistricting that overrepresented rural districts and diluted votes from urban districts.
Ruled prayer in public schools unconstitutional because it violated the separation of church and state.
Prohibited bible reading and prayer in public schools.
Unanimously ruled in favor of the plaintiff against the decision of the Florida Supreme Court, holding that the courts had violated Gideon's 6th Amendment right to counsel and 14th Amendment right to due process by refusing to appoint a defense attorney to Gideon, who was indigent.
In one of the few Supreme Court cases involving civil liability, held that public figures could not sue for libel unless they could demonstrate the defamation was "malicious intent and with reckless disregard for the truth," a higher standard than imposed for ordinary citizens.
Struck down a Connecticut law prohibiting couples from using birth control because it violated the constitutional right to privacy. Although the Constitution does not specify a right to privacy, the court held that the right is implied in a variety of amendments.
Ruled that Miranda should have been advised of his constitutional rights against self-incrimination and right to consult with an attorney prior to questioning. Overturned the conviction and set precedent for the now-famous Miranda Warning.
Invalidated a Virginia law prohibiting interracial marriage as a violation of the 14th Amendment.
Overturned the suspension of students who had worn black arm bands in protest of the Vietnam War, declaring the school had violated their First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
Denied the government's request for prior restraint in their attempt to bar the New York Times from publishing a secret Pentagon history of the Vietnam war.
Struck down death penalty laws because juries had excessive discretion in applying capital punishment, making capital punishment unconstitutional under the 8th and 14th Amendments.
Invalidated Texas law prohibiting abortion except when needed to save the mother's life. Ruled such laws violate a woman's right to privacy.
The Court ordered President Nixon to turn over subpoenaed tapes to the special prosecutor in charge of the Watergate hearings.
Reinstated the death penalty, but required strict guidelines for its implementation.
Invalidated a Texas law that prohibited burning the flag on the grounds that it represented an unconstitutional restriction on expressive conduct and political commentary.
In a challenge to Roe v. Wade, the court reaffirmed its position that abortion prior to the fetus being able to live outside the womb was not a criminal offense.
Ruled in favor of the stay preventing Florida from counting legal ballots where the intent of the voter was considered unclear (e.g., hanging chads). Concluded that the recount would change the state voting process to favor one candidate over another and was, therefore, unconstitutional in that it failed to provide equal protection.
Ruled the state could not interfere in private lives by making sexual acts between consenting adults a crime. Struck down the Texas statute as a violation of the 5th and 14th Amendments. This decision overruled the Courts own ruling on Bowers v. Hardwick, 1986.
Held that race can be a consideration in deciding college enrollment, but that schools could not use a quota system in order to achieve a model that mirrored minorities' statistical representation in the population (University of Michigan Law School).
Ruled that persons retained as "enemy combatants" had a legal right to challenge their classification, despite a presidential order stating otherwise. Further ruled that Sixth Amendment protection did not extend to prisoners of war.
Held that US citizens had the right of self-defense (to bear arms) and incorporated the Second Amendment to the States. Similar to District of Columbia v. Heller, but applied to the states, not just the federal government as Heller did.
In most cases a Supreme Court decision is permanent. The current Supreme Court can change the decision of a previous Supreme Court.
In most cases, supreme courts are final appellate courts.
The Supreme Court of the United States was created in 1789. Most of the cases the court hears come from lower courts. Each year, the Supreme Court receives 7,000 or more requests to hear cases from lower courts.
not evenly distributed
In the United States each state has a supreme court. The federal system has the United States Supreme Court.The highest Federal court is the Supreme Court.In most States the highest court is also called a supreme court.In the federal court system, the final court of appeal is the US Supreme Court. In the state court systems, the final court is typically the state Supreme Court, although a few states (such as New York) have a different title for the head court in that state. Some cases may be appealed from the state Supreme Court to the US Supreme Court, depending on the substantive issues of law.The Supreme Court of the United States (aka US Supreme Court) is the highest appellate court in the federal system.Each US State has a supreme court or an equivalent high appellate court that goes by another name.In most cases, the high court is identified as a supreme court: for example, The Supreme Court of Ohio or the Florida Supreme Court. Some states use different naming conventions. New York refers to its trial courts as "supreme courts," and its top appellate court as the New York Court of Appeals. Texas has two courts that function at the supreme court level: The Supreme Court of Texas, which reviews juvenile and civil cases; and The Court of Criminal Appeals, which reviews criminal cases.
the Jessica lal case
The Supreme Court hears the most important cases.
In most cases a Supreme Court decision is permanent. The current Supreme Court can change the decision of a previous Supreme Court.
In most cases, supreme courts are final appellate courts.
Federal appellate cases
The Supreme Court of the United States was created in 1789. Most of the cases the court hears come from lower courts. Each year, the Supreme Court receives 7,000 or more requests to hear cases from lower courts.
Most cases reach the US Supreme Court via the US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts, which are part of the federal court system.
Cases from its appellate jurisdiction.
not evenly distributed
In most cases, to bring an appeal to The Supreme Court, you must first apply to the court which handed down the judgment to ask for permission to appeal
Yes (sort of). Each US State has a supreme court or an equivalent high appellate court that goes by another name.In most cases, the high court is identified as a supreme court: for example, The Supreme Court of Ohio or the Florida Supreme Court. Some states use different naming conventions. New York refers to its trial courts as "supreme courts," and its top appellate court as the New York Court of Appeals. Texas has two courts that function at the supreme court level: The Supreme Court of Texas, which hears juvenile and civil cases, and The Court of Criminal Appeals, which hears criminal cases.
The New York Supreme Court is a state court of general jurisdiction that tries both civil and criminal cases under New York law. New York's highest appellate court (equivalent to the Supreme Court in most states) is the New York Court of Appeals.