The Most Important Supreme Court Cases

There have been over 20,000 Supreme Court cases. That's quite a lot to sift through if you're looking for the most important cases--the ones that changed the landscape of the law. There are so many landmark cases, but never fear, I've done your work for you. Here are the ten most important cases in alphabetical order. I'll leave the rankings up to you.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

This case overruled the doctrine of "separate but equal," which had been the law for almost 60 years. The Court said separate was inherently unequal, and black children were being denied equal protection of the laws when they were forced to attend a different school because of their skin color.

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

Undoubtedly the worst decision in the Court's history, but it is vital because of what it precipitated. The Court ruled that slaves were property, not citizens. It also ruled that states--not the federal government--get to decide whether slavery will be legal. This further fanned the flames of the dissension between the federal government and the states, and the country was in a civil war less than four years later.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

The Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to have a prayer led as part of a school exercise. This forever changed what establishment of religion truly means, as the Court said government must not favor one religion over another, nor favor religion over nonreligion. In essence, government must be totally neutral on the matter.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

It was unclear before this case what Congress' power to regulate commerce actually entailed. The Court said "commerce" is any commercial activity. This is crucial because the commerce clause of Article I has been the basis for thousands of laws passed by Congress since.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

The Court ruled that those accused of crimes have the right to an attorney, regardless of whether they can afford one. If they cannot, the state must provide an attorney if jail time is a possibility for the offense.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

The Court ruled that there is a right of privacy in the Constitution even though such a right is not explicitly stated. Specific to the case, the Court said that the right of privacy encompasses a couple's decision on whether or not to have a child. This was the basis for the Court's decision in Roe v. Wade eight years later.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

If you're ranking the cases, put this one at the top. Chief Justice John Marshall said that courts have the power of judicial review--the ability to rule that acts of other governmental institutions are unconstitutional. There is no such right granted in the Constitution, but it seems quite necessary if the judiciary is truly a coequal branch of government.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

This case clarified that Congress has powers beyond those that are explicitly granted in Article I, referred to as "implied powers," which are justified through the "necessary and proper clause" of Article I. The Court also clarified that the federal government is clearly supreme over the states.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

The Court ruled that those accused of crimes who are in custody must be advised of their rights before being questioned.

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District (1969)

The Court solidified how far the First Amendment right of freedom of speech extends. It goes beyond "speech," and includes nonverbal action as well. This is the basis for the Court's decisions protecting the right of individuals to carry signs or wear tee shirts that contain offensive messages, as well as the right of individuals to burn a flag.