7 landmark Supreme Court decisions

Nation & World News

Here are some sea-changing decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that, in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage. We've rounded up other landmark cases that the court has decided, accordingtoexperts. Photo contributed by Elvert Barnes under CC BY 2.0.

Texas v. Johnson (1989) Ruling: Offensive speech, including flag burning, is still protected by the First Amendment. Gregory Lee Johnson was arrested in Dallas after burning a U.S. flag. He argued the burning was symbolic speech. Photo contributed by Joel Seidenstein under CC BY 3.0.

U.S. v. Nixon (1974) Ruling: In matters of national security, the president is not above the law. President Richard Nixon refused to turn over tapes relating to his involvement in the Watergate affair by using executive privilege. The court ruled that the president's right to executive privilege does not outweigh national security. Photo contributed by Ferrylodge under CC BY 3.0.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966) Ruling: Police are required to inform suspects of their constitutional rights before questioning them. Ernesto Miranda sought to suppress his confession to raping and kidnapping. He pleaded with the court that he was not told he had the right to remain silent. Photo contributed by J. Ross Baughman under CC BY 3.0.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Ruling: Separate schools are not equal. The court reversed the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that created segregation of students in school systems. Photo contributed by Sarah W. under CC BY 2.0.

Marbury v. Madison (1803) Ruling: The Supreme Court has the authority to issue judicial writs, therefore establishing the doctrine of judicial review. The court held that any conflicting legislative acts are without force since the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Photo contributed by swatjester under CC BY 2.0

Roe v. Wade (1973) Ruling: Abortion bans violate the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause, specifically the right to privacy. Norma McCorvey, under the alias Jane Roe, sought to challenge the abortion ban in Dallas County, Texas.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Ruling: African-Americans are not citizens under the Constitution and have no standing to bring suit; Congress has no constitutional authority to ban slavory in the territories; and the federal government is prohibited from freeing slaves taken to federal territories. Dred Scott had sued his owner, John Sandford, for his freedom. The decision, widely considered the court's worst, was overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments.

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that, in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage. We've rounded up other landmark cases that the court has decided, accordingtoexperts. Photo contributed by Elvert Barnes under CC BY 2.0.

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