Landmark Decisions of US Courts (1982-2024)
Find here a selection of major constitutional and administrative decisions handed down by United States courts since 1982
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 selected here are: separation of powers; federalism; civil rights; fundamental rights; and fundamental principles of constitutional law.”
Citation
Court
Issue
Key-words
Summary
61
Nixon v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 731 (1982)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Presidential immunity ; civil lawsuit ; POTUS
62
Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha, 463 U.S. 919 (1983)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Legislative veto ; article I ; Presentment Clause
63
Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 467 U.S. 837 (1984)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Federal agencies ; Chevron deference ; administrative law ; judicial review
64
Davis v. Bandemer, 478 U.S. 109 (1986)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Gerrymandering ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause
65
South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S. 203 (1987)*
Supreme Court
Federalism
Federal subsidies ; 10th amendment ; Congressional powers
66
Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of religion ; 1st amendment ; Establishment Clause ; academic freedom
67
DeShaney v. Winnebago County, 489 U.S. 189 (1989)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Inaction. ; 14th amendment ; duty of care ; domestic violence
68
Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of speech ; 1st amendment ; symbolic speech
69
Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of religion ; 1st amendment ; Free Exercise Clause
70
Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Reproductive rights ; 14th amendment ; substantive due process ; private life
71
United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Gender equality ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause
72
Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Discrimination based on sexual orientation ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause
73
Clinton v. Jones, 520 U.S. 681 (1997)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Presidential immunity ; civil action ; POTUS
74
Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Presidential elections ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause
75
Boy Scouts of America et al. v. Dale, 530 U.S. 640 (2000)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of assembly ; 1st amendment ; discrimination based on sexual orientation
76
Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304 (2002)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Death penalty ; 8th amendment ; cruel and unusual punishment ; evolving standards of decency
77
Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Affirmative action ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause ; principle of equality
78
Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Private life ; 14th amendment ; penumbra rights ; substantive due process
79
Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466 (2004)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Military tribunals ; counter-terrorism law ; habeas corpus ; Guantanamo
80
Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Death penalty ; 8th amendment ; cruel and unusual punishment ; evolving standards of decency
81
District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
2nd amendment ; right to bear arms
82
Boumediene v. Bush, 553 U.S. 723 (2008)*
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Military tribunals ; counter-terrorism law ; habeas corpus ; Guantanamo
83
Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008)*
Supreme Court
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
International agreements ; article II ; ICJ case law
84
Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U.S. 310 (2010)
Supreme Court
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Freedom of speech ; 1st amendment ; campaign spending
85
McCutcheon v. FEC, 572 U.S. 185 (2014)
Supreme Court
Fundamental principles of constitutional law
Freedom of speech ; 1st amendment ; campaign spending
86
Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Private life ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause ; substantive due process ; sexual orientation
87
Rucho v. Common Cause, 588 U.S. 684 (2019)
Supreme Court
Separation of powers
Gerrymandering ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause ; political question doctrine
88
Vega v. Tekoh, 597 U.S. ___ (2022)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Miranda warning ; 5th amendment ; 6th amendment
89
Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 597 U.S. 507 (2022)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Freedom of religion ; 1st amendment ; Establishment Clause
90
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 597 U.S. 215 (2022)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Reproductive rights ; 14th amendment ; substantive due process
91
Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, 600 U.S. 181 (2023)
Supreme Court
Fundamental rights
Affirmative action ; 14th amendment ; Equal Protection Clause ; principle of equality
92
Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. __ (2024)
603 U.S. 2)
Supreme Court
Federalism
Federal agencies ; judicial deference ; Administrative Procedure Act