Genuine unretouched photograph of the Library's Founder Ralf r Rinkle, Esq. being congratulated by ex-Chief Justice C. Thomas upon becoming new Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by acclamation.

Here's A Selection of Famous, Infamous, and Historically
Significant Constitutional Court Decisions
Mostly by the U.S. Supremes, generally in chronological order, the larger ones are available
in both HTML & zipped (compressed) versions. We'll be adding more -- so check back.

"One puts on black robes to scare the hell out of white people, while the other puts on white robes
to scare the hell out of blacks." -- Morris Udall, comparing the Supreme Court & KKK

• MARBURY v. MADISON, 1803 Established the "Very Essence of Judicial Duty" is Deciding
  what Laws Conform to the Constitution -- ("Judicial Review"), 64k
  
  
• M'CULLOCH v. MARYLAND, 1819 U.S. Constitution is "The Supreme Law of the Land", 201k
• M'CULLOCH v. MARYLAND, 65k, Zip
  
  
• GIBBONS v. OGDEN, 1821 the Constitution Defines Federal Power to Regulate Commerce
  & Such Powers Cannot Be Exercised by a State, 69k
  
  
• THE APOLLON, EDON, CLAIM, 1824 Holding the Municipal Laws of One Nation Do Not
  Extend Beyond its Own Territory, Except Regarding Its Own Citizens, 29k
  
  
• DRED SCOTT v. SANDFORD, 1857 Infamous Decision That a Slave's Not a "Citizen"
  but "Property, to be Used in Subserviency to the Interests, the Convenience, or the
  Will, of His Owner" & "Without Social, Civil, or Political Rights", 288k
• DRED SCOTT v. SANDFORD, 94k, Zip
  
  
• THE BRIG AMY WARWICK, ET AL, 1862 Four "Prize Cases" Discussing Presidential War
  Powers Authority, 142k
• THE BRIG AMY WARWICK, ET AL, 49k, Zip
  
  
• BERG v. BRITISH & AFRICAN STEAM NAV. CO., 1863 "Prize Case" Finding President's
  Power to Initiate Military Action w/o Congress Declaring War, 31k
  
  
• UNITED STATES v. KLEIN, 1872 Congress has No Power to Enact a Statute which
  Limits the Jurisdiction of the Federal Courts, 49k
  
  
• SLAUGHTER-HOUSE CASES, 1873 Held 13th & 14th Amends Don't Protect Individual's
  Rights against Discrimination by Their Own States, 211k
• SLAUGHTER-HOUSE CASES, 71k, Zip
  
  
• EX PARTE VIRGINIA, 1879 Decided 14th Amend Means No State officers or Agencies Can
  Deny Equal Protection to any Person In Its Jurisdiction, 77k
  
  
• STRAUDER v. W. VIRGINIA, 1880 1st Equal Protection Clause Use for Racial Protection, 25k
  
  
• YICK WO v. HOPKINS, 1886 A "Neutral" Law Violates Equal Protection
  when In Practice it Operates to Discriminate Against Racial Minority, 40k
  
  
• LOCHNER v. NEW YORK, 1905 On when a State's Police Powers Violates Personal
  Liberty to Contract Under the 14th Amendment, 64k
  
  
• ABRAMS v. UNITED STATES, 1919 The Gov't Can Criminalize Anti-American Speech, 31k
  
  
• PENNSYLVANIA COAL CO. v. MAHON, 1922 When Property Regulation Goes Too Far it
  Becomes an Unconstitutional Taking, 24k
  
  
• FROTHINGHAM v. MELLON & MASS. v. MELLON, 1923 Only when Some Direct Injury
  Presents a Justiciable Issue Can Courts Rule on Constitutionality of Acts of Congress, 24k
  
  
• SHELLEY v. KRAEMER, 1948 Decided Discriminatory Private Agreements OK Under 14th
  Amend; but a Violation for State Courts to Enforce Them, 43k
  
  
• ROTH v. UNITED STATES, 1957 Criminal Laws Against Mailing of "Obscene, Lewd,
  Lascivious, Filthy or Indecent" Material are Constitutional, 77k
  
  
• GIDEON v. WAINWRIGHT, 1963 State's Refusal to Appoint Counsel for an Indigent
  Accused of Non-Capital Felony Violated Due Process Clause, 33k
  
  
• MIRANDA v. ARIZONA, 1966 Criminal Suspect's Rights Include Being Informed
  of Rights to Counsel and to Remain Silent, 223k
• MIRANDA v. ARIZONA, 81k, Zip
  
  
• BIVENS v. SIX UNKNOWN FED. NARCOTICS AGENTS, 1971 Established a Cause of
  Action for Unconstitutional Acts by Federal Agents, 86K,
  
  
• NEW YORK TIMES v. U.S., 1971 "Pentagon Papers" Case Decided Nixon's Attempted
  "Prior Restraint" was Unconstitutional Interference w/ Press Freedom, 101k
• NEW YORK TIMES v. U.S., 36k, Zip
  
  
• KASTIGAR v. U.S., 1972 Grant of Use Immunity can Override a Witness' 5th Amendment
  Self-Incrimination Privilege Claim, 62K
  
  
• GREGG v. GEORGIA, 1976 Death Penalty is Constitutional & Not "Cruel & Unusual
  Punishment" if Drafted to Ensure Adequate Info & Guidance, 167k
• GREGG v. GEORGIA, 57k, Zip
  
  
• FCC v. PACIFICA FOUNDATION, 1978 "Filthy Words" Case Says Constitution
  Allows Proscription of "Indecent" Language that's Not "Obscene", 119k
• FCC v. PACIFICA FOUNDATION, 44k, Zip

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[Last Revised 3/05]