Supreme Court Justices/Court Cases

Ruth Bader-Ginsberg

-"Notorious RBG" -83 years old -Appointed in 1993 by Bill Clinton (Democrat)

Anthony Kennedy

-Appointed in 1988 by Ronald Reagan (Republican)

Stephen Breyer

-Appointed in 1994 by Bill Clinton (Democrat)

Sonya Sotomayor

-Appointed in 2009 by Barack Obama (Democrat)

Elana Kagan

-Appointed in 2010 by Barack Obama (Democrat)

Neil Gorsuch

-Appointed in 2017 by Donald Trump (Republican)

John Roberts

-Chief Justice -Appointed in 2005 by George W. Bush (Republican)

Sam Alito

-Conservative Justice -Appointed in 2006 by George W. Bush (Republican)

Clarence Thomas

-First African American -Appointed in 1991 by George H.W. Bush(Republican)

McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819

A conflict arose between a state government and the Federal Government, with the state government being declared subordinate to the Federal government where laws conflict. Upheld the Supremacy Clause (A6, S2)

Miller v. California, 1973

Established that obscenity is not protected under the 1st Amendment. Something is obscene if it appeals to indecent sexual desire, shows offensive sexual behavior, and lacks any literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Mapp v. Ohio, 1961

Evidence found without a search warrant (hence, illegally) had to be thrown out in a court of law. -4th Amendment Exclusionary Rule

Texas v. Johnson, 1989

Flag burning is a protected form of symbolic speech. -1st Amendment

Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857

Held that people of African descent were not legal persons and could not be United States Citizens. -14th Amendment overturned

Gibbons v. Ogden, 1954

In this case the Supreme Court gave a wide definition to Congress' power to "regulate commerce... among the several states." Upheld Commerce Clause (A1, S8, C3)

Marbury v. Madison, 1803

It formed the basis for the power of judicial review under Article 3 of the Constitution.

Brown v. Board of Education, 1954

Ruled that "separate educational facilities were inherently unequal." Desegregated Schools. -Overturns Plessy v. Ferguson

Schenck v. United States, 1919

Ruled that draft protesting could be suppressed during wartime, as it created a "clear and present danger."

Roe v. Wade, 1973

Ruled that it is a woman's constitutional right to privacy determine whether to terminate a pregnancy. -Abortion

Engel v. Vitale, 1962

School-sanctioned prayer in public school violates the 1st Amendment.

Griswold v. Connecticut, 1965

Struck down a law preventing the use of contraceptives, thus protecting the right to privacy -3rd, 4th, 9th Amendment

Miranda v. Arizona, 1966

Suspects must be informed of their right to remain silent and their right to an attorney when under police custody.

Lawrence v. Texas, 2003

The Court struck down the sodomy law in Texas in a 6-3 decision and, by extension, invalidated sodomy laws in 13 other states, making same-sex sexual activity legal in every U.S. state and territory. -homosexual activity

United States v. Nixon, 1974

The President's Executive Privilege" was limited by this case.

Citizens United v. F.E.C., 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court on January 21, 2010, ruled (5-4) that laws preventing corporations and unions from using general treasury funds for independent electioneering communications violate the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech.

Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015

The United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held in a 5-4 decision that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Gitlow v. New York, 1925

The court applied the protection of free speech to the states under the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.

New York Times v. United States, 1971

The court refused to stop the publication of the Pentagon Papers, reaffirming prior restraint.

Furman v. Georgia, 1972

The death penalty rule unconstitutional under existing state law because it was imposed arbitrarily. -Halted the death penalty

Gregg v. Georgia, 1976

The death penalty ruled constitutional because it was imposed based on the circumstances of the case. -Brought death penalty back

Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963

Those who cannot afford an attorney with have one provided by the state. -6th Amendment: Right to a lawyer

Korematsu v. United States, 1944

Upheld that Japanese internment was constitutional. Only Supreme Court case in which the Court, using a strict test for possible racial discrimination, upheld a restriction on civil liberties. The case has since been severely criticized for Sanctioning racism. -Middle of WW2, Rights were suspended

Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896

Upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation, even in public accommodations, under the doctrine of "separate but equal."

Tinker v. Des Moines, 1969

Wearing black armbands in protest of the Vietnam war was symbolic speech protected under the 1st Amendment

Wisconsin v. Yoder, 1972

Wisconsin could not require Amish kids to attend public school beyond 8th grade since it went against their religion.