Supreme Court Cases Overview

Marbury v. Madison Marbury sued Sec of State Madison for his appointment to be a judge (midnight judges – Adams administration) Judicial review

Fletcher v. Peck A Georgia law attempted to take land away from some landowners Private property is protected by the Constitution – a law can’t be passed to take away private property

Dartmouth College v. Woodward The president of Dartmouth tried to change the charter of the college to make it a public institution Court ruled that the original charter was valid and could not be changed without the consent of both parties Protected contracts

McCulloch v. Maryland The state of Maryland tried to levy a tax on the federal Bank of the US Congress has the power to make a bank State has no power over federal institutions

Gibbons v. Ogden NY tried to grant a monopoly rights to access to the Hudson River Marshall ruled that interstate commerce can only be regulated by the federal gov’t

Cherokee Nation v. Georgia Georgia abolished the Cherokee tribal legislature and courts – the Cherokee asked the court to rule on the issue because they were a “foreign nation” Supreme court refused to rule because the Cherokees were not a foreign nation; they were a “dependent nation,” and the US was the “guardian”

Worcester v. Georgia GA law claimed that anyone who wanted to enter Cherokee territory needed the permission of the governor (couldn’t live there without permission) The Court overruled the Georgia law saying that it was a federal power to regulate trade with the tribes “John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.” ~Andrew Jackson

Prigg v. Pennsylvania Court ruled that states did not have to enforce the return of fugitive slaves But laws preventing the return of escaped slaves were unConstitutional

Commonwealth v. Hunt Landmark case on labor unions Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling – unions were legal organizations and had the right to organize a strike Legalized the existence of trade unions

Dred Scott v. Sanford Dred Scott, a slave, was brought by his owner into the free state of Illinois – later he sued for his freedom Court ruled that slaves were not citizens and could not sue in court ALSO – invalidated the Missouri Compromise – there was no more “free soil” – property could be brought to any state

Munn v. Illinois Upheld Granger laws regulating railroads Allowed for federal laws to limit trusts