Topic: U.S. Supreme Court

Mar 6,

1857

“A Constitutional Evil:” The Dred Scott Decision

Mar 19,

1891

Happy Birthday Earl Warren!

May 18,

1896

Plessy v. Ferguson – “Separate but Equal” Held Constitutional

Apr 25,

1906

William J. Brennan, Jr., Future Supreme Court Justice, is Born

Jul 2,

1908

Thurgood Marshall, Civil Rights Giant, is Born

Feb 4,

1913

Happy Birthday Rosa Parks!

Feb 24,

1914

Exclusionary Rule Applied to Federal Criminal Cases

Feb 23,

1915

Supreme Court: Movies Not Protected by First Amendment

Jun 21,

1915

“Grandfather” Clauses Unconstitutional

Jan 29,

1916

Louis Brandeis Nominated for Supreme Court

Jun 1,

1916

Louis Brandeis, Civil Liberties Giant, Joins Supreme Court

Nov 5,

1917

Louisville Racial Segregation Ordinance Held Unconstitutional

Mar 3,

1919

Supreme Court Creates “Clear and Present Danger” Test; Does Not Protect Dissent

Mar 10,

1919

Debs Conviction For Anti-War Speech Upheld by Supreme Court

Nov 10,

1919

“Abrams” – Justice Holmes Delivers Landmark Dissent on Freedom of Speech

May 25,

1920

You Can’t Teach German in Nebraska!

Nov 7,

1922

Oregon Passes KKK-Sponsored Anti-Catholic Education Law

Jun 4,

1923

Meyer: A Constitutional Right of Parents to Control their Children’s Education

May 2,

1927

“Three Generations of Idiots is Enough:” Supreme Court Upholds Involuntary Sterilization

May 16,

1927

Historic Brandeis Opinion in “Whitney v. California”

Jun 4,

1928

Historic Louis Brandeis Dissent on Privacy: “Olmstead v. United States”

Nov 19,

1928

Supreme Court Upholds NY Restrictions on KKK and Similar Groups

May 27,

1929

“Freedom for the Thought We Hate”

Mar 25,

1931

Scottsboro Case Begins: Nine Young African-Americans Arrested in Alabama

May 18,

1931

Supreme Court Declares California “Red Flag” Law Unconstitutional

Nov 7,

1932

Scottsboro Case Impact – Supreme Court Rules Lawyer Required in Capital Cases

Apr 1,

1935

Scottsboro Case Conviction Overturned: African-Americans Excluded From Jury

Feb 5,

1937

FDR Proposes Disastrous Court-Packing Plan

May 3,

1937

Flag Salute Controversy Begins: Gobitas Sues Minersville, PA, School Board

Aug 12,

1937

Hugo Black Nominated for Supreme Court

Sep 14,

1937

Hugo Black, New Supreme Court Justice, Attacked for Past KKK Membership

Dec 6,

1937

Supreme Court Declares Poll Tax Constitutional

Apr 25,

1938

Supreme Court Footnote Outlines Future Protection of Civil Liberties

Apr 26,

1938

Cantwell Family Arrested; Case Establishes Free Exercise of Religion

Jan 20,

1939

Felix Frankfurter Joins Supreme Court

Feb 2,

1939

Attorney General Frank Murphy Creates DOJ Civil Liberties Unit

Apr 15,

1939

William O. Douglas Joins Supreme Court

Jun 5,

1939

Freedom of Assembly! Supreme Court Rules in Famous “Hague” Case

Jan 18,

1940

Frank Murphy, Civil Libertarian, Joins Supreme Court

May 20,

1940

Free Exercise of Religion Affirmed: “Cantwell v. Connecticut”

May 21,

1940

FDR Okays Continued FBI Wiretapping

Mar 31,

1941

Supreme Court Allows Time, Place and Manner Restrictions on Parades – But No Limits on Content

Nov 24,

1941

Supreme Court: The Poor Can Come to California!

Mar 9,

1942

“Fighting Words” Doctrine Established by Supreme Court

Jun 1,

1942

Court Limits Sterilization of Offenders: “Skinner v. Oklahoma”

Oct 12,

1942

Supreme Court Opinion in “Ex Parte Quirin” — Ten Weeks Late

Feb 1,

1943

Supreme Court Upholds Connecticut Anti-Birth Control Law

Jun 21,

1943

Hirabayashi: Supreme Court Upholds Japanese-American Curfew

Apr 3,

1944

Supreme Court Declares All-White Primary Unconstitutional

Dec 18,

1944

Civil Liberties Tragedy – Supreme Court Upholds Japanese-American Evacuation

Dec 18,

1944

Supreme Court Orders Japanese-Americans Released

Jun 3,

1946

Withholding Federal Salaries an Unconstitutional Bill of Attainder

Feb 10,

1947

The “Wall of Separation” Between Church and State is Born

Jan 12,

1948

Supreme Court Requires Oklahoma to Provide Equal Law School Opportunity for African-Americans

Jul 20,

1948

Communist Party Leaders Arrested – Test of Smith Act Ahead

May 16,

1949

Supreme Court: First Amendment Protects Provocative Speech

Jun 20,

1949

Congress Explicitly Grants Secrecy to the CIA

Jun 27,

1949

Supreme Court Refuses to Apply Exclusionary Rule to the States

Jan 21,

1950

“Fear Obscures Reason,” Justice Hugo Black Warns of Cold War Hysteria

Jun 5,

1950

Supreme Court Holds Racially Segregated Railway Dining Cars Illegal

Jun 5,

1950

Univ. Texas Law School Must Admit African-American: “Sweatt v. Painter”

Jan 13,

1952

Cold War: “The Black Silence of Fear”

Apr 28,

1952

Supreme Court Okays “Released Time” for Religious Instruction

Apr 28,

1952

Supreme Court Upholds Illinois “Group Libel” Law

May 26,

1952

“The Miracle!” Movies Protected by First Amendment

Jun 2,

1952

Supreme Court Overrules Truman: Limits Presidential Power in Steel Seizure Case

Mar 9,

1953

Supreme Court Creates “State Secrets” Doctrine

Jun 8,

1953

Supreme Court Orders Desegregation of Washington, D.C. Restaurants

Feb 8,

1954

No Police Eavesdropping in Your Bedroom!

Mar 1,

1954

Earl Warren Finally Confirmed as Chief Justice

May 17,

1954

“Separate but Equal” Unconstitutional: Landmark “Brown v. Board of Education” Decision

Mar 17,

1955

John Marshall Harlan, II Joins Supreme Court

May 31,

1955

“All Deliberate Speed:” Implementing “Brown v. Board of Education”

Apr 2,

1956

Pennsylvania Sedition Law Unconstitutional Under Federal Preemption Doctrine

Jun 26,

1956

“One Pro-Communist Decision After Another:” Right-Wingers Attack Supreme Court

Oct 15,

1956

William J. Brennan Joins Supreme Court

Dec 17,

1956

Supreme Court Affirms Desegregation of Montgomery, Alabama, Buses

Feb 26,

1957

Supreme Court Nominee William Brennan Gives Surprising Answers at Confirmation Hearings

May 23,

1957

Cleveland Police Raid Dolree Mapp’s House: Case Leads to Exclusionary Rule

Jun 17,

1957

“Red Monday” – Supreme Court Limits Anti-Communist Measures

Jul 15,

1957

Daniel Seeger Claims CO Status – Begins Road to Supreme Court

Jan 13,

1958

Supreme Court Ends Post Office Ban on Homosexual Materials

Jun 30,

1958

Supreme Court Establishes Right of Freedom of Association

Jun 30,

1958

Supreme Court: No Loyalty Oath for Veterans Benefits

Sep 12,

1958

“The Constitution is Supreme:” Cooper v. Aaron

Mar 29,

1960

The Ad That Produced a Landmark First Amendment Case

Nov 14,

1960

Tuskegee, Alabama,Voting District Violates the 15th Amendment

Dec 5,

1960

Supreme Court Rules Against Segregated Bus Terminals

Jan 27,

1961

Activist Frank Kameny Brings First Gay Rights Case to the Supreme Court

May 19,

1961

Supreme Court Rules Sunday “Blue” Laws Constitutional

Jun 19,

1961

Religious Test For Political Office Ruled Unconstitutional

Nov 20,

1961

Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds Exclusion of Women From Juries

Dec 11,

1961

“Garner v. Louisiana” – Early Sit-In Victory

Mar 26,

1962

Legislative Apportionment a “Justiciable” Issue

Jun 25,

1962

Prayer in Public School Unconstitutional: “Engel v. Vitale”

Mar 18,

1963

Gideon’s Trumpet: The Right to an Attorney at Trial

Apr 2,

1963

Supreme Court Invalidates Virginia Anti-NAACP Laws, Upholds Lawyers’ Activism

Jun 17,

1963

Bible Reading in Public Schools Ruled Unconstitutional

Aug 31,

1963

Robert Bork, Yale Law Professor, Opposes Civil Rights Bill

Jan 23,

1964

The Federal Poll Tax Is Abolished

Mar 9,

1964

“Uninhibited, Robust, and Wide-Open:” The Meaning of the First Amendment

May 25,

1964

Supreme Court Orders Virginia County to Reopen Public Schools

Jun 22,

1964

“Tropic of Cancer” Ruled Not Obscene

Jun 22,

1964

Escobedo: A Right to Counsel During Police Interrogations

Jun 22,

1964

Pornography? Justice Stewart Knows It When He Sees It

Dec 7,

1964

Florida Law Banning Interracial Co-Habitation Unconstitutional

Dec 14,

1964

Supreme Court Unanimously Upholds 1964 Civil Rights Act

Mar 8,

1965

LBJ Affirms Rights of Criminal Suspects

Mar 8,

1965

Supreme Court Expands the Right of Conscientious Objection to War

May 24,

1965

Supreme Court Strikes Down Postal Censorship Law

Jun 7,

1965

A Constitutional Right to Privacy: “Griswold v. Connecticut”

Mar 7,

1966

Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of 1965 Voting Rights Act

Mar 21,

1966

Due Process for Kids: Supreme Court Reins in District of Columbia Juvenile Court

Jun 13,

1966

“You Have a Right to Remain Silent:” The Famous Miranda Decision

Dec 5,

1966

Supreme Court Orders Georgia Legislature to Seat Julian Bond

Jan 9,

1967

Civil Rights Leader Julian Bond Sworn in as Georgia State Legislator

Jan 23,

1967

Members of Allegedly “Seditious” Groups Can Teach in New York

Apr 6,

1967

Bill Baird Arrested for Giving Contraceptive to Unmarried Woman

May 8,

1967

“Redrup:” Supreme Court Gives Up Trying to Define Obscenity

May 15,

1967

Supreme Court Declares State Juvenile Court Procedures Unconstitutional

Jun 12,

1967

A Loving Victory: Supreme Court Rules Ban on Interracial Marriage Unconstitutional

Oct 2,

1967

Thurgood Marshall Joins Supreme Court – First African-American Justice

May 20,

1968

Supreme Court: “Illegitimate” Children Are Persons with Rights

May 27,

1968

First Amendment Does Not Protect Burning Draft Card Rules Supreme Court

Jun 10,

1968

Taxpayers Can Sue the Government Over Unconstitutional Practices

Nov 12,

1968

Freedom to Teach – Scopes Finally Vindicated in Epperson Case

Feb 24,

1969

Mary Beth Tinker Wins Landmark Case on Students’ First Amendment Rights

Mar 10,

1969

Civil Rights Demonstrations Upheld: “Shuttlesworth v. Birmingham”

May 4,

1970

Tax Exemptions for Churches Held Constitutional

Jun 19,

1970

2nd Circuit: Legality of Vietnam War a “Political Question,” Not a Constitutional Issue

Nov 9,

1970

Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Constitutionality of Vietnam War

Dec 21,

1970

Supreme Court Overturns 18-Year-Olds’ Right to Vote

Apr 20,

1971

Supreme Court Upholds Busing to Achieve School Integration

Apr 21,

1971

Vuitch: Supreme Court Rules in First-Ever Abortion Case

Jun 7,

1971

“Fuck the Draft” Ruled Protected Speech

Jun 28,

1971

Supreme Court Invalidates State “Parochaid” to Religious Schools

Jun 30,

1971

Landmark Freedom of the Press Victory: Supreme Court Strikes Down Pentagon Papers Injunction

Sep 17,

1971

Justice Hugo Black, Civil Liberties Giant, Retires from the Supreme Court

Nov 22,

1971

Breakthrough: Women Covered by Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Mar 22,

1972

Unmarried Women Win Right to Contraceptives in Massachusetts

May 15,

1972

Free Exercise of Religion Protects Parents’ Right to Control of Children’s Education

Jun 29,

1972

Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty as Applied is Unconstitutional

Jan 22,

1973

A Constitutional Right to an Abortion: “Roe v. Wade”

May 14,

1973

Equal Protection for Women: “Frontiero v. Richardson”

Jun 21,

1973

Supreme Court Develops “Miller Test” on Obscenity

Aug 4,

1973

Supreme Court Refuses to Halt U.S. Military Operations in Cambodia

Jul 9,

1974

Earl Warren, Chief Justice, Civil Liberties Giant, Dies

Jul 24,

1974

Supreme Court Orders President Nixon to Turn Over Tapes – Resignation Soon Follows

Jan 21,

1975

Women Cannot be Excluded From Jury Duty: “Taylor v. Louisiana”

Jun 26,

1975

You Can’t Detain Non-Dangerous Mentally Ill People: “O’Connor v. Donaldson”

Nov 12,

1975

William O. Douglas Resigns from Supreme Court

Dec 19,

1975

John Paul Stevens Joins Supreme Court

Jan 22,

1976

Supreme Court Rejects Injunctions Against Police Misconduct

Jun 30,

1976

Freedom of the Press: Courts Can’t Suppress Trial News Coverage

Jul 2,

1976

Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of the Death Penalty

Jul 2,

1979

Supreme Court: No Parental Consent Needed for Abortion

Jan 16,

1981

ACLU’s Roger Baldwin and Earl Warren Awarded Medal of Freedom

Jul 7,

1981

President Reagan Nominates Sandra Day O’Connor as First Woman For the Supreme Court

Sep 25,

1981

First Woman on the Supreme Court: Sandra Day O’Connor

May 24,

1983

No Tax Exemptions for Universities that Discriminate

Mar 27,

1985

Supreme Court Limits Police Use of Deadly Force

Jun 4,

1985

Alabama “Moment of Silence” Law Unconstitutional

Jul 9,

1985

Attorney General Ed Meese Launches “Original Intent” Crusade

Sep 26,

1986

William Rehnquist Becomes Chief Justice

Dec 10,

1986

Nobel Prize Winners’ Amicus Brief Opposes Creationism

May 26,

1987

Preventive Detention: “Dangerous” Offenders Have No Right to Bail

Jun 19,

1987

“Creationism” Violates Separation of Church and State

Oct 23,

1987

Senate Rejects Supreme Court Nominee Robert H. Bork

Jan 13,

1988

Supreme Court Denies High School Newspapers Full First Amendment Rights

Jan 24,

1993

Civil Rights Giant Thurgood Marshall Dies

Jun 14,

1993

President Clinton Nominates Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Supreme Court

Aug 10,

1993

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Civil Libertarian, Feminist, Joins Supreme Court

May 20,

1996

Victory for Lesbian and Gay Rights in the Supreme Court: “Romer v. Evans”

Jun 26,

1996

VMI Ordered to Admit Women

May 27,

1997

The President is Not Above the Law: Bill Clinton Edition

Jul 24,

1997

Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Dies

Jun 20,

2002

Executing Mentally Retarded People Unconstitutional

Jun 26,

2003

Anti-Sodomy Laws Unconstitutional: “Lawrence v. Texas”

Jun 28,

2004

“War Is Not a Blank Check for the President”: Supreme Court Rebukes Bush Administration

May 29,

2007

Supreme Court Denies Lily Ledbetter Remedy for Unequal Pay

Nov 4,

2008

Proposition 8 – California Bans Same-Sex Marriage

Aug 8,

2009

Sonia Sotomayor Joins Supreme Court; First Hispanic Justice

Jun 25,

2013

Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act: “Shelby County v. Holder”

Jun 26,

2013

Same-Sex Marriage Victory: Supreme Court Declares DOMA Unconstitutional

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