Key Precedent Cases

Allen v. Milligan

599 U.S. 1 · 2023 · 5-4

Upheld the Gingles framework for Section 2 vote dilution claims and rejected Alabama's attempts to revise the test, affirming that race-conscious redistricting can remedy Section 2 violations.

Biden v. Nebraska

2023 · 6-3

The Court found that Missouri had standing to challenge a federal student loan forgiveness program because MOHELA, though structured as a separate corporation, was sufficiently part of Missouri based on the state's control over it.

Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta

594 U.S. 595 · 2021 · 6-3

Struck down California's requirement that charities disclose their major donors, holding it violated the First Amendment because it was not narrowly tailored to an important government interest.

BP p.l.c. v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore

593 U.S. 230 · 2021 · 7-1

Held that appellate courts reviewing remand orders in federal officer removal cases may consider all grounds for removal, not just the federal officer ground.

Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee

594 U.S. 647 · 2021 · 6-3

The Court upheld Arizona election rules against a challenge under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, emphasizing that states retain broad authority to regulate elections and that some disparate impact does not automatically violate federal law.

Bostock v. Clayton County

590 U.S. 644 · 2020 · 6-3

The Court held that firing an employee for being homosexual or transgender constitutes sex discrimination under Title VII because it is impossible to discriminate on those bases without taking sex into account.

Abramski v. United States

573 U.S. 169 · 2014 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that the Gun Control Act prohibits 'straw purchases' — buying a gun on behalf of someone else to evade their background check — even when the ultimate buyer could have purchased the gun legally, because allowing such transactions would nullify the Act's record-keeping and background-check framework.

Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International

573 U.S. 208 · 2014 · 9-0

Supreme Court decision establishing a two-step test for determining whether claims are directed to patent-eligible subject matter, narrowing the scope of patentable subject matter.

Agency for International Development v. Alliance for Open Society International, Inc.

570 U.S. 205 · 2013 · 6-2

The Supreme Court held that the First Amendment does not protect foreign organizations operating abroad from conditions attached to U.S. government funding, establishing that constitutional speech protections do not automatically extend to foreign entities.

Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.

570 U.S. 1 · 2013 · 7-2

The Court held that the NVRA preempted Arizona's requirement that voters provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering using the federal form, affirming federal supremacy in setting voter registration standards.

Arizona v. United States

567 U.S. 387 · 2012 · 5-3

Struck down portions of Arizona's immigration law as preempted, holding that different state enforcement methods conflicted with the federal government's calibrated immigration enforcement approach.

Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association

564 U.S. 786 · 2011 · 7-2

The Court struck down a California law restricting the sale of violent video games to minors, holding the state failed to show a direct causal link between video games and harm to children.

Ashcroft v. Iqbal

2009 · 5-4

Established that federal complaints must contain sufficient factual matter to state a claim that is plausible on its face, not merely possible.

Burgess v. United States

553 U.S. 124 · 2008 · 9-0

Held that words added by a conforming amendment must be given their ordinary meaning and legal effect, even if labeled as merely conforming.

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly

2007 · 7-2

Established that complaints must state enough facts to raise a plausible claim for relief, retiring the old 'no set of facts' standard.

Brigham City v. Stuart

2006 · 9-0

Held that police may make a warrantless entry into a home when they have an objectively reasonable basis for believing someone inside is seriously injured or faces imminent serious injury.

Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White

548 U.S. 53 · 2006 · 9-0

Supreme Court decision establishing standards for proving retaliation claims under Title VII, holding that retaliation claims apply to conduct outside the employment context.

Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White

548 U.S. 53 · 2006 · 9-0

Held that Title VII's anti-retaliation provision covers employer actions that would dissuade a reasonable worker from making a charge of discrimination, even if not workplace-related.

Brand X Internet Services v. Federal Communications Commission

545 U.S. 967 · 2005 · 6-3

The Court recognized the FCC's authority to interpret the Communications Act and issue regulations affecting internet service providers, subject to the constraint that interpretations must be reasonable.

Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union

542 U.S. 656 · 2004 · 5-4

The Court affirmed a preliminary injunction against the Child Online Protection Act, finding the government had not shown content filtering was not a viable less restrictive alternative to age verification, and directed the district court to develop a fuller factual record.

American Insurance Association v. Garamendi

539 U.S. 396 · 2003 · 5-4

Held that state law requiring Holocaust-era insurance disclosures was preempted by the executive's foreign affairs power, recognizing implied preemption based on conflict with federal foreign policy.

Atkins v. Virginia

536 U.S. 304 · 2002 · 6-3

The Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment categorically forbids executing persons who are intellectually disabled, leaving to the states the task of developing procedures to enforce this constitutional restriction.

Alexander v. Sandoval

532 U.S. 275 · 2001 · 5-4

The Court held that private rights of action to enforce federal law must be created by Congress, and the judicial task is to interpret the statute using text and structure to determine whether Congress intended to create a private remedy.

Buckman Co. v. Plaintiffs' Legal Committee

531 U.S. 341 · 2001 · 9-0

Held that state fraud-on-the-FDA claims were preempted because they would create additional liability beyond the federal regulatory scheme, disturbing the balance of enforcement.

Apprendi v. New Jersey

530 U.S. 466 · 2000 · 5-4

The Court held that any fact, other than a prior conviction, that increases the penalty beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Bush v. Gore

531 U.S. 98 · 2000 · 5-4

Addressed the scope of state authority in administering presidential elections and recognized special federal interests in the conduct of elections for national office.

American Airlines, Inc. v. Wolens

513 U.S. 219 · 1995 · 6-1-2

Held that while the ADA preempts state consumer-protection claims against airlines, it does not bar breach-of-contract suits that merely enforce the airline's own self-imposed obligations.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. · 1990 · Senate: 91-6; House: 377-28 (final passage of conference report — this is a congressional vote, not a Supreme Court vote)

Federal statute prohibiting discrimination against individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, and other areas, requiring reasonable accommodations.

Burnham v. Superior Court

495 U.S. 604 · 1990 · 9-0

The Supreme Court held that jurisdiction over a defendant depends on adequate notice and satisfaction of due process requirements; personal presence in the forum state can establish jurisdiction.

Boyle v. United Technologies Corp.

487 U.S. 500 · 1988 · 5-4

Established a federal common law defense for government contractors who follow reasonably precise government specifications, based on the FTCA's discretionary function exception and uniquely federal interests in procurement.

Arcara v. Cloud Books, Inc.

478 U.S. 697 · 1986 · 6-3

The Supreme Court held that a New York law closing premises used for illegal sexual activity did not violate the First Amendment when applied to a bookstore, because the law was entirely speech-neutral and aimed at non-expressive conduct with only incidental effects on the bookstore.

Batson v. Kentucky

476 U.S. 79 · 1986 · 7-2

The Court held that the Equal Protection Clause forbids prosecutors from excluding jurors based on race via peremptory challenges and established a three-step process for raising and testing claims of race-based jury strikes.

Butner v. United States

440 U.S. 48 · 1979 · 9-0

The Supreme Court held that property interests in bankruptcy cases are governed by state law, not federal bankruptcy law, unless Congress has expressly provided otherwise.

Caban v. Mohammed

441 U.S. 380 · 1979 · 5-4

Struck down a New York law giving mothers but not fathers veto power over adoption of their illegitimate children, finding the sex-based classification was not substantially related to the state's interest where fathers had substantial relationships with their children.

Buckley v. Valeo

424 U.S. 1 · 1976 · Per curiam (varied by issue; no single vote count applies to the entire decision)

Upheld limits on contributions to candidates but struck down limits on independent expenditures, establishing the basic framework for campaign finance jurisprudence under the First Amendment.

Banco Nacional de Cuba v. Sabbatino

1964 · 8-1

The Supreme Court addressed the act of state doctrine in the context of Cuba's expropriation of American-owned sugar, holding that courts should not examine the validity of a foreign government's acts within its own territory.

Bantam Books, Inc. v. Sullivan

372 U.S. 58 · 1963 · 8-1

Held that a state commission's informal notices to booksellers identifying 'objectionable' material constituted an unconstitutional system of informal censorship that chilled free expression.

Austin v. Smith

1962 · Not precisely recorded in widely available sources; the case was decided by a panel of the D.C. Circuit

A D.C. Circuit decision holding that void judgments could be challenged without time limits, which became influential in other circuits.

Armstrong v. United States

364 U.S. 40 · 1960 · 5-4

The Supreme Court articulated that the Just Compensation Clause was designed to prevent the government from forcing a few property owners alone to bear burdens that should be distributed across society, ensuring fairness in government acquisition of private property.

35 U.S.C. Patent Statute

35 U.S.C. · 1952 · Not applicable — 35 U.S.C. is a federal statute passed by Congress, not a Supreme Court decision. It was enacted with broad bipartisan legislative support in both the House and Senate.

The foundational federal patent statute establishing requirements for patentability, rights of patent holders, and procedures for patent litigation.

Administrative Procedure Act

5 U.S.C. § 551 et seq. · 1946 · Unanimous in both chambers of Congress (voice votes in Senate and House)

The APA requires agencies to follow proper procedures in rulemaking and empowers courts to set aside agency actions that are arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise not in accordance with law.

Blockburger v. United States

284 U.S. 299 · 1932 · 9-0

Held that where the same act violates two statutory provisions, there are two offenses only if each provision requires proof of an additional fact the other does not.

Board of Trade of Chicago v. Johnson

264 U.S. 1 · 1924 · 9-0

The Supreme Court held that a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade was property of the bankruptcy estate, broadly construing what constitutes estate property available to creditors.

42 U.S.C. § 1983

42 U.S.C. § 1983 · 1871 · Passed by Republican majorities in both the House and Senate (largely along party lines)

Federal statute creating a private cause of action for deprivation of federal constitutional or statutory rights by persons acting under color of state law.

Anderson v. Corall

0 · 9-0

An earlier Supreme Court case addressing the tolling effect of a supervisee's interruption of their supervision period.

Bay Area Laundry

· 9-0

The Supreme Court discussed the statutory framework for assessing and collecting withdrawal liability, including plans' incentives for timely assessment.

Clark v. Sweeney

2025 · Per curiam (summary reversal)

A 2025 case in which the Supreme Court summarily reversed a court of appeals' grant of habeas corpus because the court had relied on an argument the petitioner had not actually presented, illustrating the party-presentation principle.

Consumers' Research v. FCC

2024 · 6-3

Addressed whether a universal service fee imposed by the FCC constituted an unconstitutional delegation of taxing power, with the Court examining whether adequate constraints existed on the fee.

City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, LLC

596 U.S. 61 · 2022 · 6-3

The Supreme Court held that a city sign ordinance distinguishing on-premises from off-premises signs was content-neutral because it did not discriminate based on subject matter or viewpoint, clarifying the content-based versus content-neutral distinction established in Reed v. Town of Gilbert.

Concepcion v. United States

2022 · 5-4

Held that district courts may consider intervening changes in law or fact when exercising discretion in resentencing proceedings under the First Step Act.

Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C.

596 U.S. 212 · 2022 · 6-3

The Court held that emotional distress damages are not recoverable under the Rehabilitation Act or Affordable Care Act because such damages were not traditionally available in breach of contract suits.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

597 U.S. 215 · 2022 · 6-3

The Court overruled Roe v. Wade and held there is no constitutional right to abortion, and the regulation of abortion does not constitute sex discrimination.

Caniglia v. Strom

2021 · 9-0

Held that the community caretaking exception recognized for vehicle searches does not extend to permit warrantless searches of homes.

Department of Commerce v. New York

139 S. Ct. 2551 · 2019 · 5-4

The Court emphasized that even within the executive's discretionary authority, decisions must have a rational basis and cannot be arbitrary or motivated by a pretextual rationale.

Carpenter v. United States

585 U.S. 296 · 2018 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that access to historical cell-site location information requires a warrant supported by probable cause, recognizing that digital data creates unique privacy concerns.

Cyan, Inc. v. Beaver County Employees Retirement Fund

2018 · 9-0

The Court held that the term 'subsection' in a statutory cross-reference means what it says and should not be read to refer to something narrower.

Cooper v. Harris

581 U.S. 285 · 2017 · 5-3

Struck down North Carolina congressional districts as racial gerrymanders and clarified that a state's belief it must comply with the VRA does not establish compelling interest if the legal interpretation is wrong.

Campbell-Ewald Co. v. Gomez

577 U.S. 153 · 2016 · 6-3

Held that a government contractor that violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act was not entitled to the government's sovereign immunity, while noting that contractors following lawful government directions may be protected under Yearsley.

Department of Transportation v. Association of American Railroads

2015 · 9-0

The Court held that Amtrak is a governmental entity for purposes of the non-delegation doctrine, looking past its statutory designation as a private corporation to examine its actual governmental characteristics.

Clapper v. Amnesty International USA

568 U.S. 398 · 2013 · 5-4

The Court held that plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge warrantless surveillance because the risk that the surveillance would be directed at their communications was too speculative.

Dan's City Used Cars, Inc. v. Pelkey

569 U.S. 251 · 2013 · 9-0

Held that the FAAAA did not preempt a New Hampshire consumer-protection claim arising from improper disposal of a stored vehicle because the claim was not related to the transportation of property.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

558 U.S. 310 · 2010 · 5-4

Held that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures by corporations, unions, and other associations for political communications.

Carcieri v. Salazar

2009 · 6-3

Reaffirmed the strong presumption against implied repeals and the duty to harmonize statutes where possible.

Crawford v. Marion County Election Board

553 U.S. 181 · 2008 · 6-3

The Court upheld Indiana's voter identification law, with standing of the challenging party treated as uncontroversial.

District of Columbia v. Heller

554 U.S. 570 · 2008 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess firearms for lawful purposes, particularly self-defense in the home, while suggesting some longstanding regulatory measures remain valid.

Doe v. Cahill

884 A.2d 451 · 2005 · 3-0

The court established a balancing test for compelling disclosure of anonymous defendants, weighing a plaintiff's need for identity against privacy and First Amendment protections.

Castro v. United States

2003 · 7-2

The Court held that it had jurisdiction to review whether a habeas motion was 'second or successive,' because the subject of the cert petition was the antecedent classification question, not the authorization determination itself.

Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams

532 U.S. 105 · 2001 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that the FAA Section 1 exemption for workers 'engaged in foreign or interstate commerce' applies only to transportation workers, not to all employment contracts, rejecting a broader reading that would exempt all workers from the FAA.

City of Erie v. Pap's A.M.

529 U.S. 277 · 2000 · 6-3

Held that a case challenging a city's nude dancing ordinance was not mooted by the closure of the business, because the corporate entity still existed and could resume operations.

Crosby v. National Foreign Trade Council

530 U.S. 363 · 2000 · 9-0

Struck down a state law restricting trade with Burma as preempted by federal sanctions law, noting that congressional silence on preemption may reflect confidence in implied preemption doctrine.

Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education

526 U.S. 629 · 1999 · 5-4

Held that schools receiving federal funding can be liable under Title IX for student-on-student sexual harassment when the school is deliberately indifferent and the harassment is severe enough to deny educational access.

City of Boerne v. Flores

1997 · 6-3

Held that Congress's enforcement power under the Fourteenth Amendment must be congruent and proportional to the constitutional violations it seeks to remedy or prevent.

Caterpillar Inc. v. Lewis

519 U.S. 61 · 1996 · 9-0

Held that a final judgment need not be vacated for a jurisdictional defect at removal where the defect was cured before final judgment, balancing finality and efficiency against the plaintiff's choice of forum.

Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee v. FEC (Colorado I)

518 U.S. 604 · 1996 · 7-2

Held that party expenditures made independently of a candidate cannot be limited under the First Amendment, but reserved the question of whether limits on coordinated party expenditures are constitutional.

Central Bank of Denver, N.A. v. First Interstate Bank of Denver, N.A.

511 U.S. 164 · 1994 · 5-4

Held that there is no implied private right of action for aiding and abetting violations under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act.

Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah

1993 · 9-0

Struck down city ordinances targeting animal sacrifice as violations of the Free Exercise Clause because they were gerrymandered to suppress a particular religious practice.

Concrete Pipe & Products v. Construction Laborers Pension Trust

1993 · 9-0

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the withdrawal liability scheme, noting that Congress entrusted actuaries as neutral experts to make key determinations.

Cipollone v. Liggett, Inc.

505 U.S. 504 · 1992 · 7-2 on core framework; plurality (4-justice lead opinion) on specific claims under the 1969 Act

The Supreme Court held that the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act did not preempt all state law damages claims based on failure to warn, because the statute did not expressly preempt such claims and Congress did not clearly intend to eliminate state remedies.

Coleman v. Thompson

501 U.S. 722 · 1991 · 6-3

The Court held that federal courts generally will not review claims not properly raised in state court unless the petitioner can show cause and prejudice for the default or fundamental miscarriage of justice.

City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc.

475 U.S. 41 · 1986 · 7-2

The Court upheld a city zoning ordinance restricting the location of adult theaters not because of the content they showed but because of their secondary effects—such as crime and declining property values—on surrounding neighborhoods, applying intermediate scrutiny.

City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center

473 U.S. 432 · 1985 · 6-3

The Court declined to treat disability as a quasi-suspect classification but still struck down a zoning ordinance targeting a group home for people with intellectual disabilities under rational basis review, finding it was based on irrational prejudice.

Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill

1985 · 8-1

Held that public employees with a statutory right not to be fired except for cause have a property interest protected by the Due Process Clause, entitling them to notice and an opportunity to respond before termination.

Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

467 U.S. 837 · 1984 · 6-0

A seminal case establishing that courts must defer to agency interpretations of statutes they administer, provided the agency's interpretation is reasonable, even if the court might prefer a different reading.

Dames & Moore v. Regan

453 U.S. 654 · 1981 · 9-0

Upheld executive orders implementing the Iranian hostage agreement, but issued an explicitly narrow ruling confined to the specific facts and emphasized the narrowness of its decision.

Curtiss-Wright Corp. v. General Electric Co.

1980 · 8-1

Established guiding principles for district courts exercising discretion under Rule 54(b), including consideration of judicial administrative interests.

Craig v. Boren

429 U.S. 190 · 1976 · 7-2

The Court struck down an Oklahoma law setting different drinking ages for men and women, establishing that sex-based classifications must serve important governmental objectives and be substantially related to those objectives.

Cort v. Ash

1975 · 8-0

The Court established a four-factor test for determining whether a private right of action should be implied from a federal statute, focusing on legislative intent, statutory purpose, and consistency with the legislative scheme.

Cohen v. California

403 U.S. 15 · 1971 · 5-4

The Court reversed a conviction for wearing a jacket bearing a profane anti-draft message in a courthouse, holding the First Amendment protects such expression even under a breach-of-peace statute.

Darling v. Charleston Community Memorial Hospital

211 N.E.2d 253 · 1965 · 7-0

Established that hospitals can be held liable for failing to monitor physician performance and ensure adequate care, creating a basis for institutional negligence independent of individual physician negligence.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

42 U.S.C. § 2000 et seq. · 1964 · 9-0

Federal statute prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations, employment, and federally funded programs.

Cohen v. Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp.

1949 · 6-3

Upheld the application in federal court of a state law requiring shareholders bringing derivative suits to post a bond as security for litigation costs.

Byrd v. State

0 · Not available (Alabama state court decision)

An Alabama state court decision holding that a defendant claiming intellectual disability bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that his IQ is 70 or below.

Federal Election Commission v. Cruz

2022 · 6-3

Struck down a federal limit on the amount of personal loans a candidate could repay from post-election contributions, finding the restriction burdened core political speech without sufficient anti-corruption justification.

Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court

592 U.S. 351 · 2021 · 8-0

Held that a state court has specific personal jurisdiction over a corporation when the plaintiff's claims relate to the corporation's activities in that state, even without strict causal connection.

Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc.

2021 · 6-2

Held that whether copying of software code constituted fair use was a legal question reviewed de novo, even though it required detailed examination of the factual record.

Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico v. Aurelius Investment (FOMB)

2020 · 9-0

Addressed the scope of sovereign immunity for territorial entities, finding that statutory structure can clearly indicate abrogation.

Guerrero-Lasprilla v. Barr

2020 · 7-2

Held that federal courts may review mixed questions of law and fact arising in immigration cases, rejecting the government's argument that judicial review was entirely foreclosed.

Franchise Tax Board of California v. Hyatt (Hyatt III)

2019 · 5-4

The Court overruled Nevada v. Hall and held that the Constitution implicitly guarantees that states cannot be haled into another state's courts without consent, grounding interstate sovereign immunity in constitutional structure.

Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis

584 U.S. 497 · 2018 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that employers may lawfully require employees to resolve disputes through individual arbitration and waive the right to class or collective actions, reinforcing the broad enforceability of arbitration agreements under the FAA.

Harris v. Viegelahn

575 U.S. 510 · 2015 · 9-0

The Court held that post-petition wages belong to the debtor after conversion from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7, emphasizing the Code's fresh-start policy and the distinct treatment of pre- and post-petition property.

Hall v. Florida

572 U.S. 701 · 2014 · 5-4

The Court struck down Florida's rule that any IQ score above 70 categorically disqualified a defendant from raising an intellectual disability claim, holding that courts must account for the standard error of measurement and, if the adjusted score falls within the clinically established range, must allow the defendant to present additional evidence of intellectual disability.

Florida v. Jardines

2013 · 5-4

Held that police use of a drug-sniffing dog at a home's front door was a Fourth Amendment search, discussing the scope of implied licenses to enter private property.

Dorsey v. United States

2012 · 5-4

Held that the Fair Sentencing Act's reduced crack cocaine penalties applied to offenders sentenced after the Act took effect, even if their crimes predated it.

FAA v. Cooper (Kirtz)

2012 · 5-3

Held that Congress can abrogate sovereign immunity without using specific magic words, as long as the intent is clear from the statute's overall structure and provisions.

Filarsky v. Delia

566 U.S. 377 · 2012 · 9-0

Held that a private attorney temporarily retained by a city to assist in an internal investigation was entitled to seek qualified immunity, because the common law did not distinguish between government employees and private individuals engaged in government work.

Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

2010 · 5-4

Struck down dual for-cause removal protections as unconstitutional while unanimously accepting that a single layer of for-cause removal protection for the SEC commissioners was permissible.

FEC v. Davis

554 U.S. 724 · 2008 · 5-4

The Court struck down the 'Millionaire's Amendment' to campaign finance law, finding the candidate had standing based on asymmetric fundraising limits.

Dolan v. United States Postal Service

2006 · 7-2

Held that the postal exception covers bad things that happen to the mail itself (not arriving, arriving damaged or late) but does not extend to separate injuries like slip-and-falls that merely occur around mail delivery.

eBay Inc. v. MercantileExchange.com, Inc.

547 U.S. 388 · 2006 · 9-0

Supreme Court decision holding that patent holders are not automatically entitled to injunctive relief and must satisfy traditional equity requirements, affecting how courts remedy patent infringement.

Gonzalez v. Crosby

2005 · 7-2

The Court addressed the relationship between procedural dispositions and the second-or-successive framework under AEDPA.

Gonzaga University v. Doe

536 U.S. 273 · 2002 · 7-2

The Court held that for a statute to create rights enforceable under Section 1983, Congress must speak with a clear, unambiguous, rights-creating focus on individual beneficiaries.

Federal Election Commission v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee (Colorado II)

533 U.S. 431 · 2001 · 5-4

Held that limits on political party expenditures coordinated with candidates are constitutional because such expenditures are functionally equivalent to contributions and may be limited to prevent corruption.

Geier v. American Honda Motor Co.

529 U.S. 861 · 2000 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that a state law claim challenging the adequacy of airbag design was preempted because it conflicted with federal safety standards and regulatory decisions made by NHTSA regarding airbag implementation.

Feltner v. Columbia Pictures Television, Inc.

523 U.S. 340 · 1998 · 8-0

The Court held that the Seventh Amendment provides a right to a jury trial on the amount of statutory damages under the Copyright Act.

Edwards v. Balisok

520 U.S. 641 · 1997 · 9-0

Applied Heck to prison disciplinary proceedings, barring damages claims that would imply invalidity of the discipline, while allowing prospective procedural challenges to continue.

Felker v. Turpin

1996 · 9-0

The Court held that AEDPA did not strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to entertain original habeas petitions, finding no implied repeal of habeas jurisdiction.

EEOC v. Aramco

499 U.S. 244 · 1991 · 6-3

The Court applied the presumption against extraterritorial application to a federal employment statute, requiring clear evidence of congressional intent to reach foreign conduct.

Dunaway v. New York

1979 · 6-2

Rejected the idea that a balancing test should replace the probable cause requirement for seizures, emphasizing probable cause provides needed clarity for officers.

Duncan v. Louisiana

391 U.S. 145 · 1968 · 7-2

Established that jury trial rights in criminal cases apply to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Eerie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins

304 U.S. 64 · 1938 · 6-2

The Court held that federal courts must apply state substantive law in diversity cases, establishing principles about the limits of federal judicial power and federalism.

Embassy Industries

· N/A (arbitration decision by a single arbitrator)

An ERISA arbitration decision addressing the timing of actuarial assumption selection for withdrawal liability purposes.

Energy West

· 7-2

A court required recalculation of withdrawal liability after finding the actuarial assumptions used were unreasonable.

Espinosa

· 9-0

Defined the scope of void judgments under Rule 60(b)(4) to include certain jurisdictional defects and judgments entered without notice and opportunity to be heard.

Mahmoud v. Taylor

2025 · 6-3

The Court applied strict scrutiny directly after finding lower courts had applied the wrong standard of review, rather than remanding for further proceedings.

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo

2024 · 6-3

The Supreme Court overruled Chevron deference, holding that courts must independently interpret statutes rather than deferring to agency interpretations of ambiguous language, while acknowledging that Congress may expressly delegate certain interpretive discretion to agencies for specific regulatory determinations.

Lora v. United States

2024 · 9-0

Held that § 924(j)'s penalties stand independently from § 924(c) and do not incorporate § 924(c)'s mandatory minimums or consecutive sentencing mandates, as Congress designed § 924(j) to account for the seriousness of killing by itself.

Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania

2020 · 7-2

Upheld regulations issued under an express delegation of rulemaking authority, holding that the agencies acted within the scope of their delegated power.

McDonough v. Smith

588 U.S. 109 · 2019 · 6-3

Held that a Section 1983 fabricated-evidence claim does not accrue until the criminal proceedings terminate in the plaintiff's favor, extending Heck's favorable-termination logic.

Lewis v. Clarke

2017 · 8-0

The Court held that a tribal employee sued individually was not entitled to tribal sovereign immunity, and that a tribe's agreement to indemnify an employee does not make that employee an arm of the tribe.

McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission

572 U.S. 185 · 2014 · 5-4

Struck down aggregate limits on the total amount individuals could contribute to all candidates, parties, and PACs combined, finding they did not serve an anti-corruption interest given other existing safeguards.

McDonald v. City of Chicago

561 U.S. 742 · 2010 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms applies to state and local governments, not just the federal government, via incorporation through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Massachusetts v. EPA

549 U.S. 497 · 2007 · 5-4

The Court held that agencies cannot simply refuse to regulate based on policy preferences when a statute provides standards governing their discretion, establishing that discretion is not absolute.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd.

545 U.S. 913 · 2005 · 9-0

Held that distributing a device with the object of promoting its use to infringe copyright can create secondary liability, adopting an inducement theory for copyright law.

McConnell v. Federal Election Commission

540 U.S. 93 · 2003 · 5-4

Largely upheld the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, including restrictions on soft money contributions to national party committees and limits on electioneering communications by corporations and unions.

Mead Corporation v. United States

533 U.S. 218 · 2001 · 8-1

The Court held that agency interpretations receive Chevron deference only when the agency possessed delegated authority to issue binding rules with the force of law.

Lexecon Inc. v. Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach

523 U.S. 26 · 1998 · 9-0

Held that an MDL transferee court lacked authority to conduct trial, requiring vacatur of the judgment and return to the original forum despite no argument that one federal court was better than another.

Lincoln v. Vigil

508 U.S. 182 · 1993 · 9-0

The Court held that certain agency decisions regarding resource allocation and priority-setting are committed to agency discretion and not subject to judicial review under the APA.

Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife

504 U.S. 555 · 1992 · 7-2

The Supreme Court established the three-part constitutional test for standing: injury-in-fact, causation, and redressability, and held that speculative future injuries do not satisfy the injury-in-fact requirement.

Meese v. Keene

481 U.S. 465 · 1987 · 5-3

The Court found a state senator had standing to challenge the Foreign Agents Registration Act based on harm to his electoral prospects and reputation.

Menna v. New York

423 U.S. 61 · 1975 · 6-2

The Court ruled that a guilty plea does not waive a defendant's double jeopardy claim because such a claim goes to the constitutional power of the government to hale the defendant into court at all.

Loving v. Virginia

388 U.S. 1 · 1967 · 9-0

The Court struck down Virginia's ban on interracial marriage, holding that even though the law applied equally to both races, it was still a racial classification subject to strict scrutiny and violated equal protection.

McPherson v. Blacker

1892 · 9-0

Presidential electors challenged Michigan's switch from statewide to district-by-district selection of presidential electors.

McCulloch v. Maryland

17 U.S. 316 · 1819 · 7-0

Established that the federal government possesses broad implied powers to implement its constitutional authority, and that state laws cannot interfere with valid federal exercises of power.

Little v. Barreme

6 U.S. 170 · 1804 · Unanimous

Chief Justice Marshall upheld a damages award against a Navy captain who seized a ship while following the president's orders during a quasi-war with France.

Marbury v. Madison

5 U.S. 137 · 1803 · 4-0

Established that the judiciary has the power to review and interpret the Constitution and determine whether laws and actions comply with constitutional requirements.

McKee v. Gratz

0 · Unanimous

A Justice Holmes opinion addressing whether customary rights to enter private property (collecting shells) were established by local practice and tradition.

South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom

592 U.S. 61 · 2021 · 6-3

In various COVID-19 cases, the Court held that government restrictions on religious gatherings must satisfy heightened scrutiny even during a public health emergency when comparable secular activities were treated more favorably.

Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County v. Talevski

2023 · 7-2

The Court held that rights created under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act, a Spending Clause statute, could be enforced through Section 1983 because a law enacted under the Spending Clause is still a 'law of the United States.'

Jones v. Hendrix

2023 · 6-3

Held that a prisoner who had already filed a Section 2255 motion could not use Section 2241 to raise a statutory claim that his conduct was not criminal, because Congress specifically limited second or successive 2255 motions to constitutional claims.

Kansas v. Garcia

2020 · 5-4

Held that federal immigration law did not preempt Kansas from prosecuting identity fraud, emphasizing the limits of implied preemption under the Supremacy Clause.

Iancu v. Brunetti

588 U.S. 388 · 2019 · 6-3

The Court struck down a provision of trademark law that barred registration of 'immoral or scandalous' marks, finding it constituted viewpoint discrimination.

Knick v. Township of Scott

588 U.S. 180 · 2019 · 5-4

Held that property owners may bring Fifth Amendment takings claims directly in federal court without first seeking compensation through state procedures, overruling Williamson County.

Latiolais v. Huntington Ingalls, Inc. (Latiolais II)

2019 · 13-2

Held that failure-to-warn claims against a military contractor were 'related to' the contractor's federally directed act of installing asbestos on Navy ships, even though the federal government did not specifically direct the warnings.

Jennings v. Rodriguez

583 U.S. 281 · 2018 · 5-3

The Supreme Court addressed the scope of immigration detention authority under the INA and emphasized that courts must apply the statute's plain text rather than reading in implied limitations not found in the text.

Koons v. United States

2018 · 8-0

Interpreted identical language in Section 3582(c)(2) requiring that sentence reductions be consistent with Sentencing Commission policy statements, characterizing it as language of limitation.

Sessions v. Morales-Santana

582 U.S. 47 · 2017 · 6-2

The Court struck down a federal immigration law that imposed different physical-presence requirements on unwed citizen mothers versus unwed citizen fathers for their children to acquire citizenship at birth.

Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project

561 U.S. 1 · 2010 · 6-3

The Supreme Court upheld the federal material support statute prohibiting assistance to designated foreign terrorist organizations, finding the law survived strict scrutiny due to significant deference owed to Congress and the executive on foreign-policy national security determinations.

Kimbrough v. United States

2007 · 7-2

Held that district courts may consider the disparity between crack and powder cocaine guidelines when imposing sentences, recognizing broad judicial discretion in sentencing.

Jama v. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

2005 · 5-4

Applied the principle that congressional silence on a particular issue should not be read as an implicit prohibition.

Johnson v. California

543 U.S. 499 · 2005 · 5-3

The Court held that California's policy of racially segregating prisoners was subject to strict scrutiny, not the deferential Turner standard, and remanded for application of that standard while noting courts could consider the prison context.

INS v. Orlando Ventura

2002 · 7-2

Held that courts should remand to the BIA rather than deciding issues in the first instance, recognizing the agency's expertise in immigration law.

INS v. St. Cyr

533 U.S. 289 · 2001 · 5-4

The Supreme Court held that courts should not interpret immigration statutes to eliminate habeas corpus review unless Congress clearly and specifically does so, reflecting a strong presumption in favor of judicial review.

Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents

528 U.S. 62 · 2000 · 5-4

Addressed whether the ADEA validly abrogated state sovereign immunity, finding Congress had clearly expressed its intent to subject states to suits.

Foster v. Love

522 U.S. 67 · 1997 · 9-0

The Court struck down Louisiana's open primary system that could elect candidates before federal Election Day, holding that Congress has authority to set a uniform federal Election Day that preempts conflicting state rules.

Gasperini v. Center for Humanities, Inc.

1996 · 5-4

Held that a New York standard for reviewing excessive jury verdicts could be applied in federal court through the mechanism of Federal Rule 59, finding no direct conflict between the state standard and the federal rule.

Heck v. Humphrey

1994 · 9-0

Held that a Section 1983 damages claim is not barred by habeas requirements as long as the claim does not necessarily imply the invalidity of the conviction or sentence.

Hess v. Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp.

513 U.S. 30 · 1994 · 6-3

The Court held that the Port Authority, a bi-state entity created by New York and New Jersey, was not entitled to sovereign immunity, applying a substance-based analysis examining financial independence, control, and corporate structure.

Landgraf v. USI Film Products

511 U.S. 244 · 1994 · 8-1

The Court held that a statute should not be applied retroactively unless Congress clearly intended retroactive application, establishing a presumption against statutory retroactivity.

Herrera v. Collins

1993 · 6-3

Expressed skepticism that a freestanding claim of actual innocence, without an accompanying constitutional violation, provides a basis for federal habeas relief, suggesting clemency as the appropriate remedy.

Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools

503 U.S. 60 · 1992 · 9-0

The Court held that damages were available under Title IX, applying a presumption that all appropriate remedies are available unless Congress expressly restricts them.

INS v. Elias-Zacarias

502 U.S. 478 · 1992 · 6-3

Held that an asylum applicant must provide evidence that would compel a reasonable factfinder to conclude persecution was on account of a protected ground, applying substantial evidence review.

INS v. National Center for Immigrants' Rights

502 U.S. 183 · 1991 · 6-3

The Supreme Court addressed standards for facial challenges to agency regulations, holding that a regulation is not facially invalid merely because some applications may be improper; the challenger must demonstrate the regulation's primary standards are unauthorized by the statute.

Icicle Seafoods, Inc. v. Worthington

1986 · 6-3

Addressed the standard of review for the determination of whether particular workers qualified as 'seamen' under federal labor law.

Kelly v. Robinson

479 U.S. 36 · 1986 · 7-2

The Court held that restitution obligations imposed as conditions of a criminal sentence are not dischargeable in bankruptcy, recognizing restitution as serving rehabilitative and punitive criminal justice goals.

Garrett v. United States

471 U.S. 773 · 1985 · 6-3

Held that a continuing criminal enterprise offense and a predicate drug importation offense were not the same for double jeopardy purposes because the CCE statute was designed to reach distinct, ongoing criminal conduct.

Heckler v. Chaney

470 U.S. 821 · 1985 · 9-0

The Court held that prosecutorial and enforcement non-enforcement decisions are generally within agency discretion and typically not subject to judicial review under the APA.

Hillsborough County v. Automated Medical Labs

471 U.S. 707 · 1985 · 9-0

The Supreme Court held that state regulations requiring blood donation testing were preempted because they conflicted with federal objectives of maintaining uniform blood safety standards across states.

Hunter v. Underwood

471 U.S. 222 · 1985 · 8-0

The Supreme Court struck down an Alabama constitutional provision disenfranchising people convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, finding that racial animus was a but-for cause of its enactment, rendering it unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause regardless of any facially neutral justification.

Hatch-Waxman Act (Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act)

35 U.S.C. §§ 271(e), 505(j) · 1984 · Passed by voice vote in the U.S. Senate and by overwhelming margin in the U.S. House of Representatives (this is a statute, not a court decision)

Federal statute creating an abbreviated pathway for generic drug approval while preserving patent protections for branded drugs and establishing procedures for patent disputes in this context.

Illinois v. Gates

462 U.S. 213 · 1983 · 6-3

Adopted a totality-of-the-circumstances approach to probable cause, describing it as requiring a 'fair probability' rather than a mathematical certainty.

INS v. Chadha

462 U.S. 919 · 1983 · 7-2

Struck down the legislative veto as unconstitutional, holding that Congress could not retain unilateral authority to override executive action outside the bicameralism and presentment requirements.

Lehr v. Robertson

463 U.S. 248 · 1983 · 6-3

Upheld a law that did not require notice to a biological father who had abandoned his child before adoption, distinguishing Caban on the ground that this father had no substantial relationship with the child.

Inwood Laboratories, Inc. v. Ives Laboratories, Inc.

456 U.S. 844 · 1982 · 9-0

Held that a manufacturer or distributor of a product can be liable for trademark infringement if it intentionally induces another to infringe, or continues to supply a product to one it knows is engaging in trademark infringement.

Illinois State Board of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party

1979 · 5-4

The Court struck down Illinois's signature requirements for ballot access as applied to minor parties and independent candidates.

FCC v. Pacifica Foundation

438 U.S. 726 · 1978 · 5-4

The Court upheld FCC sanctions against a radio station for broadcasting George Carlin's 'Filthy Words' monologue in the daytime, applying reduced First Amendment protection to broadcast media because of its pervasive, uninvited presence in homes and the use of publicly licensed airwaves.

Village of Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Housing Development Corp.

429 U.S. 252 · 1977 · 5-3

The Court established a multi-factor test for determining when a facially neutral government action was motivated by discriminatory intent, considering factors like legislative history, departures from normal procedures, and disparate impact.

Federal Energy Administration v. Algonquin SNG, Inc.

426 U.S. 548 · 1976 · 9-0

Upheld presidential authority under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to impose license fees on oil imports as a means to 'adjust imports,' rejecting the argument that Congress must use explicit tariff language.

Geders v. United States

1976 · 9-0

The Supreme Court held that a trial court order barring all contact between a defendant and his attorney during an overnight recess violated the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

Geduldig v. Aiello

417 U.S. 484 · 1974 · 6-3

The Court held that California's disability insurance program did not engage in sex discrimination by excluding pregnancy-related disabilities, reasoning that the classification was between pregnant and non-pregnant persons, not between men and women.

Frontiero v. Richardson

411 U.S. 677 · 1973 · 8-1

Struck down a military benefits policy that treated male and female service members differently, with a plurality arguing sex should be a suspect classification subject to strict scrutiny.

Laird v. Tatum

408 U.S. 1 · 1972 · 5-4

Held that allegations of a subjective chilling effect from the mere existence of a government surveillance program, without more concrete harm, were insufficient for standing.

Ginsberg v. New York

390 U.S. 629 · 1968 · 6-3

The Court upheld a New York law criminalizing the sale of 'girlie magazines' to minors under 17, applying rational basis review and holding that a state may define obscenity differently for children than for adults.

Katz v. United States

389 U.S. 347 · 1967 · 7-1

The Court abandoned the physical trespass test for searches and adopted the reasonable expectation of privacy test, which protects electronic communications.

Hanna v. Plumer

1965 · 9-0

Held that when a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure directly conflicts with a state law, the federal rule governs in diversity cases, provided the rule is valid under the Rules Enabling Act.

Lamont v. Postmaster General

381 U.S. 301 · 1965 · 8-0

The Supreme Court struck down a law requiring postal customers to affirmatively request delivery of communist political propaganda from abroad, establishing that the government cannot burden Americans' right to receive foreign speech based on disagreement with its content.

Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez

372 U.S. 144 · 1963 · 5-4

The Court established a multi-factor test for determining whether a statute is punitive, examining factors like whether the sanction involves an affirmative disability, its historical treatment, and whether it serves a non-punitive purpose.

Huron Portland Cement Co. v. Detroit

362 U.S. 440 · 1960 · 7-2

The Supreme Court held that states retain police powers to regulate local matters even in areas where the federal government has regulatory involvement, though federal standards may preempt conflicting state requirements.

Foley Bros., Inc. v. Filardo

336 U.S. 281 · 1949 · 6-3

The Court reinforced that federal statutes are presumed to apply only domestically and that congressional intent to extend a law abroad must be clearly expressed.

International Shoe Co. v. Washington

326 U.S. 310 · 1945 · Unanimous (Jackson not participating)

The Court established that due process requires a defendant to have certain minimum contacts with the forum state such that exercise of jurisdiction does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.

Humphrey's Executor v. United States

295 U.S. 602 · 1935 · 9-0

Unanimously held that the President could not remove an FTC commissioner except for cause specified by statute, distinguishing the FTC's quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial functions from purely executive functions.

J.W. Hampton, Jr., & Co. v. United States

276 U.S. 394 · 1928 · 9-0

Upheld Congress's delegation to the President to adjust tariff rates, establishing the 'intelligible principle' test for nondelegation — that Congress must provide an intelligible principle to guide the delegate's exercise of authority.

Kettelhake v. American Car & Foundry Co.

1915 · 9-0

Held that an involuntary non-suit ordered by a state court against a non-diverse defendant did not terminate that party's jurisdictional significance in the case.

Henry v. A.B. Dick Co.

224 U.S. 1 · 1912 · 4-3

A patent case holding that selling supplies with intent and purpose that they be used to infringe a patent could create contributory liability.

Ex parte Garland

71 U.S. 333 · 1867 · 5-4

The Supreme Court addressed the scope and application of the Fourteenth Amendment's disability clause in the context of post-Civil War loyalty requirements and office-holding restrictions.

Gibbons v. Ogden

22 U.S. 1 · 1824 · 6-0

Landmark Commerce Clause case establishing that Congress's power to regulate commerce encompasses a broad range of commercial activities including navigation and trade.

Cornell Johnson (referenced as 'Cornell Johnson')

0 · 7-2

A Supreme Court case recognizing the nature of supervised release as involving post-confinement monitoring and assistance by probation officers.

Crane (Ninth Circuit)

0 · N/A

A Ninth Circuit case where a supervisee left a residential treatment program early and the probation officer was not notified in time to obtain a warrant.

Ignacio Juarez (Ninth Circuit)

0 · 3-0

A Ninth Circuit case clarifying that abscondment from supervised release requires a pattern of conduct that precludes supervision, not just a single failure to appear.

Janvier (Second Circuit)

0 · Panel decision (3-0)

A Second Circuit decision interpreting Section 3583(i) as a provision designed for late end-of-term violations where there was insufficient time to hold a revocation hearing.

Kosak v. United States

0 · 5-4

Interpreted the customs exception to the FTCA, which used broader language covering all detention of goods by customs officers regardless of intent.