The Four Most Notable SCOTUS Case Decisions

 The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has the "ultimate jurisdiction over all laws within the United States" (History.com). This means that they have a great amount of power in United States government activity, especially in setting precedents for later cases. Established in 1789, they have grown to review over seven-thousand cases each year. Of these thousands since their creation, the Supreme Court has made certain notable decisions. These are in my opinion, the four most significant SCOTUS case decisions.

1. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

While the details of the case are nothing special, this case led directly to Chief Justice John Marshall setting the precedent of judicial review, a principle in which SCOTUS would review the constitutionality of law created by Congress. In this case, John Marshall single-handedly defined the relationship between the judicial branch and the federal government. Judicial review is a crucial check over Congress which is used currently.

2. Dredd Scott v. Sanford (1857)

In contrast to Marbury vs. Madison, the contents of this case are of great importance. In this instance, Dredd Scott was a slave in Missouri until he fled to the free state of Illinois. He later claimed in Missouri that his residency in Illinois made him a free man. The respondent, Sanford, provided that Scott was a slave and therefore property, not a citizen. SCOTUS ruled in favor of Sanford, furthering that Scott did not have the right to sue the Federal Court. Justice Taney then ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional and that slaves were not free in free states.

3. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Brown v. Board is arguably just as an important case as Dredd Scott v. Sanford in dealing with racial issues. Multiple parties argued that denial of white public schools and facilities that were prohibited to people of color was an illegal form of segregation, especially because the colored facilities were of greatly inferior quality. Local courts upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine. In an unanimous decision, SCOTUS ruled that the "separate but equal" schools were of different quality and unequal, violating the Equal Protection Clause under the Fourteenth Amendment.

4. Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Mapp vs. Ohio surfaced after a woman was convicted of possessing something illegal, a conviction obtained with an illegal search by police. Police originally had the intent of searching for a fugitive when they came across her illegal materials. Mapp vs. Ohio determined that the materials seized by the officers were protected from seizure under the Fourteenth Amendment. This meant that evidence obtained illegally could not be used in cases. 

In conclusion, the SCOTUS has great power to determine the course of justice in the United States. Even though they have made many unexpected and immoral decisions, they are in many ways modern guardians of the people against tyrannical laws. 


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