Landmark Supreme Court Cases: Summaries and Solutions, Exams of Law

Concise summaries of landmark supreme court cases, outlining the key issues, decisions, and their significance. Cases include marbury v. Madison, dred scott v. Sanford, plessy v. Ferguson, and brown v. Board of education, among others. It is useful for students studying law, political science, or american history, offering a quick reference to understand the impact of these cases on american legal and social landscape. The summaries cover cases related to civil rights, constitutional law, and individual liberties, providing a broad overview of the supreme court's role in shaping american society.

Typology: Exams

2024/2025

Available from 11/03/2025

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WGU C963 Court Cases with Complete Solutions
Marbury v. Madison - -This case involved
the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Supreme Court
declared that the law conflicted with the U.S.
Constitution, and the case established the
principle of judicial review wherein the Supreme
Court has the power to declare laws passed by
Congress and signed by the president to be
unconstitutional.
Dred Scott v. Sanford - -Supreme Court
case that decided US Congress did not have the
power to prohibit slavery in federal territories and
slaves, as private property, could not be taken
away without due process - basically slaves
would remain slaves in non-slave states and
slaves could not sue because they were not
citizens
Plessy v. Ferguson - -a 1896 Supreme
Court decision which legalized state ordered
segregation so long as the facilities for blacks
and whites were equal
United States v. Miller - -1939; ruled that
the National Firearms Act of 1934 was
constitutional, allowing federal govt to ban
interstate shipping of some unregistered guns
(because it was unrelated to state militias)
Korematsu v. US - -1944 Supreme Court
case where the Supreme Court upheld the order
providing for the relocation of Japanese
Americans. It was not until 1988 that Congress
formally apologized and agreed to pay $20,000 2
each survivor
Brown v Board ofEducation of Topeka (1954) -
-Supreme Court ruling that overturned the
Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court Case of
1896. "Separate but equal" is Unconstitutional in
the field of public education
Mapp v. Ohio - -Established the
exclusionary rule was applicable to the states
(evidence seized illegally cannot be used in
court)
Gideon v. Wainwright - -A person who
cannot afford an attorney may have one
appointed by the government
Sherbert vs. Verner - -Unemployment may
not be denied on religious basis
Grsiwold v. Connecticut - -Although several
state constitutions do list the right to privacy as a
protected right, the explicit recognition by the
Supreme Court of a right to privacy in the U.S.
Constitution emerged only in the middle of the
twentieth century. In this 1965 case, the court
spelled out the right to privacy for the first time in
a case that struck down a state law forbidding
even married individuals to use any form of
contraception.
Miranda v. Arizona - -Supreme Court held
that criminal suspects must be informed of their
right to consult with an attorney and of their right
against self-incrimination prior to questioning by
police.
Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections -
-Struck down poll taxes at the state level
Tinker v. Des Moines - -Students have the
right to symbolic speech at school as long as it is
not disruptive
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Marbury v. Madison - - This case involved the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Supreme Court declared that the law conflicted with the U.S. Constitution, and the case established the principle of judicial review wherein the Supreme Court has the power to declare laws passed by Congress and signed by the president to be unconstitutional. Dred Scott v. Sanford - - Supreme Court case that decided US Congress did not have the power to prohibit slavery in federal territories and slaves, as private property, could not be taken away without due process - basically slaves would remain slaves in non-slave states and slaves could not sue because they were not citizens Plessy v. Ferguson - - a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal United States v. Miller - - 1939; ruled that the National Firearms Act of 1934 was constitutional, allowing federal govt to ban interstate shipping of some unregistered guns (because it was unrelated to state militias) Korematsu v. US - - 1944 Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court upheld the order providing for the relocation of Japanese Americans. It was not until 1988 that Congress formally apologized and agreed to pay $20,000 2 each survivor Brown v Board ofEducation of Topeka (1954) -

  • Supreme Court ruling that overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court Case of
  1. "Separate but equal" is Unconstitutional in the field of public education Mapp v. Ohio - - Established the exclusionary rule was applicable to the states (evidence seized illegally cannot be used in court) Gideon v. Wainwright - - A person who cannot afford an attorney may have one appointed by the government Sherbert vs. Verner - - Unemployment may not be denied on religious basis Grsiwold v. Connecticut - - Although several state constitutions do list the right to privacy as a protected right, the explicit recognition by the Supreme Court of a right to privacy in the U.S. Constitution emerged only in the middle of the twentieth century. In this 1965 case, the court spelled out the right to privacy for the first time in a case that struck down a state law forbidding even married individuals to use any form of contraception. Miranda v. Arizona - - Supreme Court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police. Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections -
  • Struck down poll taxes at the state level Tinker v. Des Moines - - Students have the right to symbolic speech at school as long as it is not disruptive

Brandenburg v. Ohio - - 1969 --Determined that a law that proscribes advocacy of violence for political reform is constitutional if applied to speech that is not directed toward producing imminent lawlessness and is not likely to produce such action is not constitutional. Miller v. California - - A 1973 Supreme Court decision that avoided defining obscenity by holding that community standards be used to determine whether material is obscene in terms of appealing to a "prurient interest" and being "patently offensive" and lacking in value. Cohen v. California - - This case involved an arrest and conviction for disturbing the peace for wearing a jacket expressing opposition to the draft (and the Vietnam War). The conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court since his actions were silent and he made no attempt to otherwise disturb the peace. Roe v. Wade - - (1973) legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission -

  • A 2010 landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures. Burwell v. Hobby Lobby - - (2014) Allowed closely-held, for-profit corporations to be exempt from a law its owners religiously object to if there is a less restrictive means of furthering the law's interest. Furman v. Georgia - - This 1972 Supreme Court case struck down all state laws allowing the death penalty stating that they allowed for too much discretion on the part of the judge and jury resulting in lack of consistent administration of the penalty. Gillette v. United States - - Individual cannot use religion to get out of particular war, must be against all wars Lemon v. Kurtzman - - The 1971 Supreme Court decision that established that aid to church- related schools must (1) have a secular legislative purpose; (2) have a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion; and (3) not foster excessive government entanglement with religion. McDonald v. Chicago - - The right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" protected by the 2nd Amendment is incorporated by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment and applies to the states. Texas v. Johnson - - A 1989 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment. Planned Parenthood v. Casey - - A 1992 case in which the Supreme Court loosened its standard for evaluating restrictions on abortion from one of "strict scrutiny" of any restraints on a "fundamental right" to one of "undue burden" that permits considerably more regulation. Miller v. Johnson - - 1995 SuCo: Racial gerrymandering violates the equal protection clause.