Category: Historical

In Locke v. Davey, 540 U.S. 712 (2004), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a State of Washington’s scholarship aid program, which excluded students pursuing a "degree in devotional theology," did not run afoul of the First Amendment to the U.S. Cons...

In Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347 (1976), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the practice of dismissing public employees for partisan reasons runs afoul of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Facts of the Case Several Republican non-civil se...

In Presser v. Illinois, 116 U.S. 252 (1886), the U.S. Supreme Court first considered the Second Amendment. It held that the Second Amendment prevented the states from “prohibit[ing] the people from keeping and bearing arms, so as to deprive the ...

In Barenblatt v. United States, 360 U.S. 109 (1959), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the House Committee on Un-American Activities did not violate the First Amendment in investing Lloyd Barenblatt's affiliations with the Communist Party. Accordingl...

In McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 (1927), the U.S. Supreme Court held that Congress’ power of inquiry, along with means of enforcement, are an integral and valid exercise of its legislative function. Facts of the Case The case sprung fro...

In Clinton v. Jones, 520 U.S. 681 (1997), the U.S. Supreme Court held that private civil lawsuits can proceed against a sitting President. In so ruling, the justices unanimously rejected President Bill Clinton’s argument that "in all but the most ...

In Lloyd Corp v Tanner, 407 U.S. 551 (1972), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the owners of a shopping mall could prohibit anti-war activists from distributing leaflets at their center without violating the First Amendment. In reaching its decision...

In Kentucky v Dennison, 65 U.S. 66 (1861), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Extradition Clause’s commands are mandatory and afford no discretion to executive officers of the asylum State. However, it further held that the federal courts h...