In the legal world, court cases and lawsuits are nothing new, but some famous court cases make history. Sometimes due to the verdict or legal findings, some cases take all the limelight. The United States Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and its decisions make a profound impact on the judicial system. Some of the famous and controversial Supreme Court cases have shaped the course of history, redefined rights, freedom, and the fabric of the American legal system. Let’s take a look at landmark US Supreme Court cases further in the blog.
Historic United States Supreme Court Cases
The top 9 landmark Supreme Court cases US that have created a stir in the legal industry are:
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Issue: Who can/will decide what the law is?
Result: The case established judicial review, it gives the judicial department to decide what law.
Importance: This case allows the court to strike the laws that are unconstitutional and cements the court to check on both branches, ensuring that the law comply with the Constitution.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Issue: Does the Constitution require that any defendants charged with felony who can’t afford an attorney be guaranteed the free assistance of legal counsel?
Result: The result established the right to counsel for every individual. According to a unanimous Supreme Court, the Court held the Sixth Amendment right to assistance of counsel applies that” lawyers in criminal court cases are necessities and not luxury. This is why the Constitution provides the right to attorney and representation in court.
Importance: Not just the case guaranteed fairness for state criminal defendants, the Gideon decision also played a major role in expanding public defender systems across the country
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Issue: The main issue of the case was does the federal government/Congress can establish a national bank and even if it can a state tax this bank?
Result: The case resulted in the federal government/Congress having the power to establish a national bank. It is possible under the “necessary and proper” clause of the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, the State also determined that US laws explain that state laws and consequently, a state could not tax the national bank. It is not in the power of the state.
Importance: The case clarified the relationship between federal and state power. The McCulloch decision states two important principles for a constitutional law that continue today: implied powers and federal supremacy.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Issue: The issue with the Brown v. Board of Education case was is racial segregation of public schools violate the equal protection clause?
Result: A unanimous Court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that state laws that require or allow racially segregated schools violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The Court famously said that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.
Importance: The Brown decision is heralded as a landmark decision for the Civil Right Movement. It promoted equal educational opportunities for students. It created history by overturning the “separate but equal” doctrine.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Issue: The issue with this case was are people constitutionally required to be informed about their right to attorney or the right to remain silent when they are under custodial interrogation.
Result: The court found that according to Fifth and Sixth Amendments, the police are required to inform individuals under custodial interrogation about their right to remain silent and assisted by their attorney. Additionally, the court also stated that if at any point the police fail to inform this to an individual, any statements made by the accused cannot be admitted as evidence during the trial.
Importance: The case was important to safeguard the rights of individuals who are forced to confess against their will and uphold the process during police interrogation.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
Issue: The issue with the Roe vs. Wade case was the question that the constitution prohibits women’s rights to abortion?
Result: The Court concluded that any such laws violate the Constitution’s right to privacy. It legalized abortion nationwide, making it a national debate.
Importance: This famous Supreme Court case was important for recognizing women’s rights and bodily autonomy in concern for reproduction and health decisions. Roe has become a centerpiece when it comes to abortion rights and battles in the courtroom.
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)
Issue: Regents of the University of California v. Bakke is also among our supreme court cases list. The main issue with the case was can an institution of higher learning use race as a factor when considering admissions decisions.
Result: The result of this case outlawed the racial quotas, and the Court held that universities may use race as part of an admissions process. But it also mentioned that it is possible in universities as long as “fixed quotas” are not used. The Court determined that the specific system in place at the University of California Medical School was “unnecessary” to achieve the goal of creating a diverse student body and was merely a “fixed quota” and therefore, was unconstitutional.
Importance: The case defined the parameters of affirmative action, aiming for diversity without discrimination.
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District
Issue: The issue that this case came up with was can students in schools express themselves freely. Even if they want to wear black armbands to symbolize anti-war political protest?
Result: Students have the right to protest according to the First Amendment right. They are allowed to wear black armbands in protest of the Vietnam War.
Importance: This case was important, as it helped in establishing the limits on schools’ ability to restrict student expression. The case promoted freedom of speech among students.
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Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
Issue: Among the landmark Supreme Court cases, Gibbons v. Ogden is the last on our list. The issue that arose in this case was can the state pass a law that can challenge the constitutionality and power of the state to regulate interstate.
Result: As a result, the case clearly defined the power and scope of Congress to regulate interstate commerce or trade.
Importance: The case was important, as it established the limited states’ ability to restrict trade between states. This helped in fostering a national market among different states.
All these famous landmark Supreme Court cases in the US established some or the other law. They played a major role in shaping the US legal system. If you are a lawyer or a law student it is crucial to study and understand the impact of these cases.