The Top 300+ Supreme Court Cases of all time, by category

April 21st, 2011

Available here. I put this list together for my final class tomorrow (well today at this late hour), where I wish to take the students on a chronological tour through constitutional law, focusing not just on categories of cases, but also on time. When you look at SCOTUS cases on a continuum like this, a lot of things come into perspective. Stay tuned. I will put together further analysis, in addition to some pretty graphs. I’ll paste the table after the jump.

Year Name Category
1793 Chisholm v. Georgia Federalism
1798 Calder v. Bull Criminal Rights
1803 Marbury v. Madison Federal Courts
1806 Stawbridge v. Curtiss Federal Courts
1807 Ex Parte Bollman Federal Courts
1810 Fletcher v. Peck Federal Courts
1816 Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee Federal Courts
1819 Dartmouth College v. Woordward Economic and Property Rights
1819 McCullough v. Maryland Federal Power
1821 Cohens v. Virginia Federal Courts
1823 Corfield v. Coryell Economic and Property Rights
1823 Johnson v. M’Intosh Civil Rights
1824 Osborn v. Bank of the United States Federal Courts
1824 Gibbons v. Ogden Federalism
1831 Cherokee Nation v. Georgia Civil Rights
1833 Barron v. Baltimore Federalism
1837 Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge Economic and Property Rights
1842 Swift v. Tyson Federal Courts
1849 Luther v. Borden Federalism
1850 Sheldon v. Sill Federal Courts
1857 Dred Scott v. Sanford Civil Rights
1861 Ex Parte Merryman   Executive Power
1866 Ex Parte Milligan Executive Power
1869 Ex Parte McCardle Federal Courts
1869 Texas v. White Federalism
1873 Slaughter-House Cases Civil Rights
1875 Minor v. Happersett Civil Rights
1875 United States v. Cruikshank Civil Rights
1877 Munn v. Illinois Economic and Property Rights
1878 Pennoyer v. Neff Federal Courts
1880 Strauder v. West Virginia Criminal Rights
1883 Civil Rights Case Civil Rights
1884 Hurtado v. California Criminal Rights
1886 Presser v. Illinois Civil Rights
1886 Yick Wo v. Hopkins Civil Rights
1887 Mugler v. Kansas Economic and Property Rights
1890 Hans v. Louisiana Federal Courts
1890 In re Neagle Executive Power
1895 US v. E.C. Knight Co. Federal Power
1896 Plessy v. Ferguson Civil Rights
1897 Chicago, B&Q R. v. Chicago Economic and Property Rights
1897 Allegeyer v. Louisiana Economic and Property Rights
1898 US v. Won Kim Ark Civil Rights
1903 Champion v. Ames Federal Power
1905 Lochner v. New York Economic and Property Rights
1908 Ex Parte Young Federalism
1908 Mueller v. Oregon Economic and Property Rights
1908 Lousiville & Nashville Railroad Co. v. Mottley Federal Courts
1908 Berea College v. Kentucky Civil Rights
1908 Twining v. New Jersey Criminal Rights
1914 Weeks v. United States Criminal Rights
1916 American Well Works Federal Courts
1917 Buchanan v. Warley Civil Rights
1918 Hammer v. Dagenhart Federal Power
1919 Abrams v. United States   First Amendment
1919 Schenck v. United States   First Amendment
1921 Smith v. Kansas City Tittle & Trust Co. Federal Courts
1922 Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. Mahon Economic and Property Rights
1922 Bailey v. Drexel Furniture Co. Federal Power
1923 Adkins v. Children’s Hospital Economic and Property Rights
1923 Meyer v. Nebraska Individual Liberty
1925 Pierce v. Society of Sisters Individual Liberty
1925 Carroll v. United States Criminal Rights
1926 Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. Economic and Property Rights
1927 Whitney v. California First Amendment
1927 Buck v. Bell Individual Liberty
1928 Olmstead v. United States Criminal Rights
1932 New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann Federalism
1932 Powell v. Alabama Criminal Rights
1934 Home Building & Loan Association v. Blaisdell Nebbia v. New York Economic and Property Rights
1935 Schechter Poultry v. US Federal Power
1935 Gold Clause Cases Economic and Property Rights
1935 Humphrey’s Executor v. US Executive Power
1936 US v. Butler Federal Power
1936 US v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp. Executive Power
1937 NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Federal Power
1937 Palko v. Connecticut Federalism
1937 West Coast Hotel v. Parish Economic and Property Rights
1938 US v. Carolene Products Federal Power
1938 Erie Railroad v. Tompkins Federal Courts
1939 Hague v. CIO   First Amendment
1940 Minserville School District v. Gobitis   First Amendment
1940 Cantwell v. Connecticut   First Amendment
1941 Klaxon v. Stentor Electric Manufacturing Federal Courts
1941 Railroad Commission v. Pullman Federal Courts
1942 Wickard v. Filburn Federal Power
1942 Ex Parte Quirin Executive Power
1942 Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire First Amendment
1942 Skinner v. Oklahoma Individual Liberty
1943 Burford v. Sun Oil Co.   Federal Courts
1943 Hirabayashi v. US Executive Power
1943 West Virginia v. Barnette   First Amendment
1944 Ex Parte Endo Executive Power
1944 Korematsu v. US Executive Power
1945 Guaranty Trust Co v. York Federal Courts
1946 Marsh v. Alabama First Amendment
1947 Everson v. Board of Education First Amendment
1948 Shelley v. Kraemer Civil Rights
1949 Wolf v. Colorado Criminal Rights
1950 Johnson v. Eisentrager Executive Power
1951 Dennis v. United States First Amendment
1952 Youngstown Sheet & Tube v. Sawyer Executive Power
1954 Brown v. Board of Education Civil Rights
1954 Bolling v. Sharpe Civil Rights
1954 Berman v. Parker Economic and Property Rights
1955 Williamson v. Lee Optical Economic and Property Rights
1957 Reid v. Covert Executive Power
1957 Jencks v. United States Criminal Rights
1958 Cooper v. Aaron Civil Rights
1958 NAACP v. Alabama Civil Rights
1961 Mapp v. Ohio Criminal Rights
1962 Baker v. Carr Federalism
1962 Engel v. Vitale First Amendment
1963 Abington Township v. Schempp First Amendment
1963 Sherbert v. Verner First Amendment
1963 Ferguson v. Skrupa Economic and Property Rights
1963 Brady v. Maryland Criminal Rights
1963 Gideon v. Wainright Criminal Rights
1963 Wong Sun v. United States Criminal Rights
1964 Hearts of Atlanta Motel v. US Civil Rights
1964 Katzenbach v. McClung Civil Rights
1964 Reynolds v. Sims Federalism
1964 Jacobellis v. Ohio First Amendment
1964 Aguilar v. Texas Criminal Rights
1964 Escobedo v. Illinois Criminal Rights
1964 Malloy v. Hogan Criminal Rights
1965 Griswold v. Connecticut Individual Liberty
1965 New York Times v. Sullivan First Amendment
1965 Swain v. Alabama   Criminal Rights
1966 Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections   Civil Rights
1966 Miranda v. Arizona Criminal Rights
1967 Katz v. United States Criminal Rights
1968 Ginsberg v. New York First Amendment
1968 United States v. O’Brien First Amendment
1968 Duncan v. Louisiana   Criminal Rights
1968 Terry v. Ohio Criminal Rights
1969 Brandenburg v. Ohio First Amendment
1969 Red Lion Broadcasting Co v. FCC First Amendment
1969 Tinker v. Des Moines Ind. Comm. School Dist. First Amendment
1969 Chimel v. California Criminal Rights
1970 Goldberg v. Kelly Economic and Property Rights
1971 Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Bd. of Ed Civil Rights
1971 Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Agents Federal Courts
1971 Younger v. Harris Federal Courts
1971 Griggs v. Duke Power   Employment
1972 Board of Regents v. Roth Economic and Property Rights
1972 Baker v. Nelson Civil Rights
1972 Eisenstadt v. Baird Individual Liberty
1972 Furman v. Georgia Criminal Rights
1973 Fronteiro v. Richardson Civil Rights
1973 San Antonio Inderpendent School District v. Rodriguez Civil Rights
1973 McDonnel Douglas Corp v. Green Employment
1973 Roe v. Wade Individual Liberty
1973 Doe v. Bolton Individual Liberty
1974 Milliken v. Bradley   Civil Rights
1974 US v. Nixon Executive Power
1976 Matthews v. Eldridge Economic and Property Rights
1976 Craig v. Boren Civil Rights
1976 Washington v. Davis Civil Rights
1976 Gregg v. Georgia Criminal Rights
1976 Natl League of Cities v. Usery Federalism
1977 Coker v. Georgia Criminal Rights
1978 Penn Central Transportation Co v. New York City Economic and Property Rights
1978 Regents of University of Cal. v. Bakke Civil Rights
1978 Monell v. NYC Dept. of Social Services Federal Courts
1978 Owen v. Kroger Federal Courts
1978 Franks v. Delaware Criminal Rights
1978 Rakas v. Illinois Criminal Rights
1979 Smith v. Maryland   Criminal Rights
1979 Goldwater v. carter Executive Power
1980 World-Wide Volkswagen Corp v. Woodson Federal Courts
1980 Ohio v. Roberts Criminal Rights
1980 Payton v. New York Criminal Rights
1981 Valley Forge Christian College v. Americans United for Separation of Church and State Federal Courts
1981 New York v. Belton Criminal Rights
1981 Dames & Moore v. Regan Executive Power
1982 Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan Civil Rights
1982 Plyer v. Doe Civil Rights
1982 Northern Pipeline Co v. Marathon Pipe Line Co. Federal Courts
1982 Harlow v. Fitzgerald Executive Power
1982 Nixon v. Fitzgerald Executive Power
1983 City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health Individual Liberty
1983 Illinois v. Gates Criminal Rights
1983 Michigan v. Long Criminal Rights
1984 Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill Economic and Property Rights
1984 Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff Economic and Property Rights
1984 Chevron v. NRDC Federal Courts
1984 Strickland v. Washington Criminal Rights
1985 City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc. Civil Rights
1985 New Jeresy v. T.L.O. Criminal Rights
1985 Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority Federalism
1986 Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. Federal Courts
1986 Celotex Corp v. Cartrett Federal Courts
1986 Matsushita Elec. Indus. v. Zenith radio Corp. Federal Courts
1986 Merrell Dow v. Thompson Federal Courts
1986 Batson v. Kentcuky Criminal Rights
1986 Bowsher v. Synar Executive Power
1986 Bowers v. Hardwick Individual Liberty
1987 South Dakota v. Dole Federalism
1987 Nollan v. California Coastal Commission Economic and Property Rights
1988 Hustler v. Falwell First Amendment
1988 Morrison v. Olson Executive Power
1989 Teague v. Lane Criminal Rights
1989 United States v. Verdugo-Urquidez Criminal Rights
1989 City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Civil Rights
1989 DeShaney v. Winnebago County Civil Rights
1989 County of Allegheny v. ACLU First Amendment
1989 Ward v. Rock Against Racism First Amendment
1989 Texas v. Johnson First Amendment
1989 Mistretta v. United States Executive Power
1989 Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins Employment
1989 Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Antonio Employment
1989 Webster v. Reproductive Health Services Individual Liberty
1990 Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce First Amendment
1990 Employment Division v. Smith First Amendment
1991 California v. Acevedo Criminal Rights
1991 Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Company Civil Rights
1991 Rust v. Sullivan Individual Liberty
1992 Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Federal Courts
1992 New York v. United States Federalism
1992 Lee v. Weisman First Amendment
1992 R.A.V. v. St. Paul First Amendment
1992 Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council Economic and Property Rights
1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey Individual Liberty
1993 Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah First Amendment
1993 Lamb’s Chapel v. Center Moriches Union Free School District First Amendment
1994 Bd of Ed of Kiryas Joel village School District v. Grumet First Amendment
1994 Dolan v. City of Tigard Economic and Property Rights
1995 Adarand v. Pena Civil Rights
1995 Rosenberger v. University of Virginia First Amendment
1995 United States v. Lopez Federal Power
1996 Seminole Tribe v. Florida Federalism
1996 United States v. Virginia Civil Rights
1996 Romer v. Evans Individual Liberty
1997 City of Boernes v. Flores Federalism
1997 Printz v. United States Federalism
1997 Clinton v. City of New York Federalism
1997 Reno v. ACLU First Amendment
1997 Clinton v. Jones Executive Power
1997 Washington v. Glucksberg Individual Liberty
1999 Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael Federal Courts
1999 Alden v. Maine Federalism
1999 Saenz v. Roe Civil Rights
2000 Apprendi v. New Jersey Criminal Rights
2000 City of Indianapolis v. Edmond Criminal Rights
2000 Dickerson v. United States Criminal Rights
2000 Bush v. Gore Federalism
2000 Reno v. Condon Federalism
2000 Hill v. Colorado First Amendment
2000 Stenberg v. Carhart Individual Liberty
2000 Troxel v. Granville Individual Liberty
2000 United States v. Morrison Federal Power
2001 Saucier v. Katz Federal Courts
2001 Atwater v. City of Lago Vista Criminal Rights
2001 INS v. St. Cyr Criminal Rights
2001 Kyllo v. US Criminal Rights
2001 Whitman v. American Trucking Association Federal Power
2002 Ashcroft v. ACLU First Amendment
2003 Nevada Department of Human resources v. Hibbs Federalism
2003 Grutter v. Bollinger Civil Rights
2003 Gratz v. Bollinger Civil Rights
2003 Virginia v. Black First Amendment
2003 Lawrence v. Texas Individual Liberty
2004 Blakely v. Washington Criminal Rights
2004 Crawford v. Washington Criminal Rights
2004 Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow First Amendment
2004 Hamdi v. Rumsfield Executive Power
2004 Rasul v. Bush Executive Power
2004 Rumsfield v. Padilla Executive Power
2005 Roper v. Simmons Criminal Rights
2005 United States v. Booker Criminal Rights
2005 United states v. Fanfan Criminal Rights
2005 Granholm v. Heald Federalism
2005 Castle Rock v. Gonzales Civil Rights
2005 McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky First Amendment
2005 Van Orden v. Perry First Amendment
2005 Kelo v. City of New London Economic and Property Rights
2005 Gonzales v. Raich Federal Power
2006 Davis v. Washington Criminal Rights
2006 Hudson v. Michigan Criminal Rights
2006 Hamdan v. Rumsfield Executive Power
2006 Burlingotn Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White Employment
2007 Bell Atlantic v. Twombly Federal Courts
2007 Gall v. United States Criminal Rights
2007 Kimbrough v. United States Criminal Rights
2007 Rita v. United States Criminal Rights
2007 Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 Civil Rights
2007 FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life First Amendment
2007 Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation First Amendment
2007 Morse v. Frederick First Amendment
2007 Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Employment
2007 Gonzales v. Carhart Individual Liberty
2008 Ashcroft v. Iqbal Federal Courts
2008 Kennedy v. Louisiana Criminal Rights
2008 District of Columbia v. Heller Civil Rights
2008 Boumedienne v. Bush Executive Power
2008 Medellin v. Texas Executive Power
2009 Pearson v. Callahan Federal Courts
2009 Arizona v. Gant Criminal Rights
2009 Herring v. United States Criminal Rights
2009 Melendez-Diaz v. Mass. Criminal Rights
2009 Safford Unified School District v. Redding Criminal Rights
2009 Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Federalism
2009 Northwest Austin Municipal District No. 1. v. Holder Civil Rights
2009 Pleasant Grove City v. Summum First Amendment
2010 Berghuis v. Thompkins Criminal Rights
2010 Graham v. Florida Criminal Rights
2010 Maryland v. Shatzer Criminal Rights
2010 McDonald v. Chicago Civil Rights
2010 Christian Legal Society v. Martinez First Amendment
2010 Citizens United v. FEC First Amendment
2010 United States v. Stevens First Amendment
2010 Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB Executive Power
2010 United States v. Comstock Federal Power
2011 Michigan v. Bryant Criminal Rights
2011 Snyder v. Phelps First Amendment