Landmark Decisions of US Courts (1937-1979)
Find here a selection of major constitutional and administrative decisions handed down by United States courts between 1937 and 1979
The following table was compiled using Élisabeth Zoller’s Les grandes décisions de la Cour Suprême des États-Unis (Dalloz, 2010), as well as various American textbooks and treatises.
The decisions are arranged in chronological order. Decisions marked with an asterisk (*) appear in Élisabeth Zoller’s volume.
The topics identified are: separation of powers; federalism; civil rights; fundamental rights; and fundamental principles of constitutional law.
Citation
Court
Issue
Key-words
Summary
31
National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, 301 U.S. 1 (1937)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Commerce Clause ; article I ; New Deal
32
West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish, 300 U.S. 379 (1937)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Freedom of contract ; 14th amendment ; substantial due process ; Lochner Era ; minimum wage
33
Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Federal common law ; Rules of Decision Act
34
United States v. Carolene Products Company, 304 U.S. 144 (1938)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Freedom of contract ; article I ; Commerce Clause ; 5th amendment ; substantial due process ; Lochner Era
35
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of religion ; 1st amendment ; freedom of speech ; compelled speech
36
Smith v. Allwright, 321 U.S. 649 (1944)
Supreme Court
Civil rights
Racial equality ; 14th amendment ; right to vote
37
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)*
Supreme Court
Civil rights
Racial equality ; segregation ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause
38
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 349 U.S. 294 (1955)
Supreme Court
Civil rights
School desegregation ; “with all deliberate speed” ; post-Brown
39
Williamson v. Lee Optical Co., 348 U.S. 483 (1955)
Supreme Court
Federalism
14th amendment ; clause d’égale protection ; Equal Protection Clause ; standard of review
40
Reid v. Covert, 354 U.S. 1 (1957)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Military tribunals ; article III ; 5th amendment ; 6th amendment
41
Cooper v. Aaron, 358 U.S. 1 (1958)
Supreme Court
Federalism
Article VI ; racial equality ; school desegregation ; post-Brown
42
Trop v. Dulles, 356 U.S. 86 (1958)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Denationalisation ; 8th amendment ; cruel and unusual punishment ; evolving standards of decency
43
Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Exclusionary rule ; 4th amendement ; unreasonable search and seizure
44
Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Redistricting ; 14th amendement ; Equal Protection Clause ; political questions
45
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of speech ; 1st amendment ; diffamation
46
Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, 377 U.S. 218 (1964)
Supreme Court
Civil rights
School desegregation ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause ; post-Brown
47
Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Private life ; reproductive rights ; penumbra rights ; substantive due process
48
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Criminal procedure ; 5th amendment ; 6th amendment ; self-incrimination clause ; exclusionary rule
49
Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections, 383 U.S. 663 (1966)
Supreme Court
Civil rights
Voting rights ; 14th amendment ; 24th amendment ; racial equality
50
Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967)
Supreme Court
Civil rights
Racial equality ; 14th amendement ; Equal Protection Clause ; Due Process Clause ; anti-miscegenation laws
51
Flast v. Cohen, 392 U.S. 83 (1968)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of religion ; 1st amendment ; Establishment Clause ; standing
52
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of speech ; 1st amendment ; Vietnam War
53
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of religion ; 1st amendment ; Establishment Clause ; Lemon test
54
Branzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 655 (1972)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Source protection ; 1st amendment ; Press freedom
55
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Reproductive rights ; 14th amendment ; penumbra right ; substantive due process ; private life
56
United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Executive privilege ; POTUS ; separation of powers ; Watergate
57
Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Freedom of speech ; 1st amendment ; campaign finance
58
Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Administrative procedure ; 5th amendment ; procedural due process
59
Nixon v. General Services Administration, 433 U.S. 425 (1977)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Executive privilege ; POTUS ; separation of powers ; Watergate
60
Ambach v. Norwich, 441 U.S. 68 (1979)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Immigration law ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause ; governmental functions