List of landmark court decisions in the United States

For a list of landmark court decisions in other countries, see Lists of landmark court decisions.

The following is a partial list of landmark court decisions in the United States. Landmark decisions establish a significant new legal principle or concept or otherwise substantially change the interpretation of existing law. Such a decision may settle the law in more than one way:

In the United States, landmark court decisions come most frequently from the Supreme Court. United States courts of appeals may also make such decisions, particularly if the Supreme Court chooses not to review the case or if it adopts the holding of the lower court. Although many cases from state supreme courts are significant in developing the law of that state, only a few are so revolutionary that they announce standards that many other state courts then choose to follow.

Individual rights


Discrimination based on race and ethnicity

Discrimination based on sex

Discrimination based on sexual orientation

Birth control and abortion

End of life

Power of Congress to enforce civil rights

Other areas

Criminal law

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

Right to an attorney

Other rights regarding counsel

Right to remain silent

Competence

Detainment of terrorism suspects

Capital punishment

Other criminal sentences

Federalism

First Amendment rights

Freedom of speech and of the press

Freedom of religion

Freedom of association

Freedom of petition

Second Amendment rights

Third Amendment rights

Other areas

References

  1. Hartman, G. R., Mersky, R. M., & Tate, C. L. (2004). Landmark Supreme Court cases: The most influential decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. New York: Facts on File. pp. 92–93. ISBN 0-8160-2452-9.
  2. Selya, Bruce M. (August 22, 2008). "United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review Case No. 08-01 In Re Directives [redacted text] Pursuant to Section 105B of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act" (PDF). United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review (via the Federation of American Scientists). Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  3. The Media, the Public and Agricultural Biotechnology.
  4. "Diamond v. Chakrabarty: A Retrospective on 25 Years of Biotech Patents" (PDF).
  5. Supreme Court Decision on Justia
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