Significant Supreme Court

Cases
APUSH Review
Mrs. Verrett

Marbury Vs. Madison

1803 (Jefferson)
The Issue: Does the Constitution give the
Supreme Court the Power to Invalidate the
actions of Other Branches of Government?
The decision: (Marshall) Judiciary Branch
cannot force the Executive Branch, can rule
whether his actions are unconstitutional or
not, (established judicial review)

Fletcher v. Peck

1810 (Madison)
The Issue: GA sold land acquired in the Land
Act of 1795 (lands extended into MS and AL).
Later GA sold land to speculators for bribes
that did not turn out, so they repealed the
law and took back the land. Fletcher sued
Peck (speculator) who sold him the land
without clear title to it.
The decision: (Marshall) GAs decision to
repeal the law was unconstitutional (property
rights must be protected). Furthermore, it sets
up judicial review for state laws (first time the
US supreme court rules a state law
unconstitutional)

McCulloch v. Maryland

1819 (Monroe)
The Issue: Can the state pass laws to collect
tax on any bank not chartered in the state of
Maryland, specifically the 2nd Bank of the US?
(a federally chartered bank)
The Decision: (Marshall) No, Maryland could
not tax (interfere) with a federally chartered
bank. Furthermore, states cannot tax the
federal government for doing business in the
state

Dartmouth College v.
Woodward

1819 (Monroe)
The Issue: New Hampshire wanted to
appoint a president to a private college. Can
the state revoke the charter of a private
school, make it a public school and appoint
president?
The Decision: (Marshall) The charter of the
school was a private business and the state
did not have the power to interfere. Private
Business Property rights are protected by the
federal government. (similar to Fletcher v
Peck)

Cohens v. Virginia

1821 (Monroe)
The Issue: Cohen Brothers sold lottery tickets
from DC (made legal by US Congress) in
Virginia. Virginias State supreme court
decided it was a violation of state law.
Furthermore, Virginia declared they could
settle all disputes between the federal and
state government
The Decision: (Marshall) US Supreme court
agreed with Virginia on the case, but
declared that US Supreme Court would settle
all disputes between federal and state
governments

Gibbons v. Ogden

1824 (Monroe)
The Issue: Gibbons ran a ferry service along
the coast, commissioned by congress to
regulate trade. NY (Ogden) passed a law
that he could not come into NY waters.
The Decision: (Marshall) Federal government
had the power to enforce all trade
regulations, navigations, and interstate trade,
and can override all state laws

Worcester v. Georgia

1832 (Jackson)
The Issue: Can the state government enter a
treaty with Native Americans, or take land by
force from Native Americans?
The Decision: (Marshall) No, the states
cannot, the federal government must deal
with the Native Americans. Furthermore, the
federal government must protect them from
the state government and state militia

Commonwealth v. Hunt

1842 (Tyler)
The Issue: In Massachusetts - Union leader
(Hunt) was arrested for conspiracy because
he organized a strike when non-union
members were hired
The Decision: Unions were not criminal or
conspiring organizations, as no force was
given to make people join the strike this
legalized the organization of trade unions

Scott vs. Sanford (Sandford)

1857 (Buchanan) aka Dred Scott Case

The Issue: a slave claims to be free because
he lived in free territory with his master
The Decision: (Taney) He was not free. As
property, he did not have the right to sue.
Missouris laws did not apply to him.
Furthermore, the federal government did not
have the power to outlaw slavery. This
makes the 3630 line to outlaw slavery
unconstitutional.

Ex parte Milligan

1866 (Johnson)
The Issue: Confederate soldiers were
imprisoned, found guilty of plotting to steal
Union weapons and attempting to free
Confederate soldiers in Indiana, Ohio, and
Michigan. Execution was set for after the
war, May 1865
The Decision: (Chase) the application of
military tribunals to citizens when civilian
courts are still operating is unconstitutional.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 (Cleveland)
The Issue: Can a black man be forced
to sit in coach seating on a train, even if
he purchased a first class ticket?
The Decision: (Fuller) Racial
segregation (particularly in railroad
travel) is constitutional. Furthermore,
separate but equal is legal.

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 (Eisenhower)
The Issue: Can a black student be forced to go
to an all black school on the other side of the
city (or in another district) when there is a
closer all white school school down the street
from his or her house?
The Decision: (Warren) separate but equal is
inherently unequal, overrides courts previous
decision in Plessey vs. Ferguson. Therefore,
students must go to schools based on where
they live, not based on their race.
Furthermore, school must be desegregated, it
is unconstitutional to operate segregated
schools.

Gideon v. Wainwright

1963 (Kennedy)
The Issue: If everyone is allowed to be
defended in a court of law, what
happens if a person cannot afford a
lawyer? If they do not have money,
then are their rights violated?
The Decision: (Warren) to make sure
the 6th amendment is not violated, the
court must appoint a lawyer if an
accused person cannot afford one

Miranda v. Arizona

1966 (Johnson)
The Issue: If an individual is arrested and
questioned by police, should his or her
testimony be admissible in court if he or she
was not aware of his 5th amendment rights?
The Decision (Warren) No, it is not admissible
in court. It is only admissible if the defendant
understands the 5th amendment and agrees
to waive the 5th amendment rights.

Roe v. Wade

1973 (Nixon)
Can a single women be denied the
opportunity to have an abortion. At the time
in Texas, abortion was only legal in the case
of rape, incest, or if the health of the mother
is in danger
Decision (Burger) A womans right to
privacy is protected in the 14th amendment,
so the government cannot make the decision
for her, she can make her own decision

Regents of the Univ. of

California v Bakke

1978 (Ford)
The Issue: Bakke believe he was discriminated
against because he was white and was not
admitted to UC Davis medical school. He outperformed black students who were accepted,
as they were accepted under a special program
for minority students. CA Supreme Court
decided he was discriminated against and he
was enrolled at US Davis Medical School. The
University of California brought a counter-suit
against Bakke to prove their dual admission
process was constitutional
The Decision: (Burger) Racial Quota System is
banned, however race can be one of the many
factors taken into account when students
apply.