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November 18, 2024 | SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments in Four Cases
Category: Supreme Court Decisions
Johnson v. M’Intosh: The Power to Grant Land
In Johnson v. M’Intosh, 21 U.S. 543 (1823), the U.S. Supreme Court addressed whether Native Americans had the power to give, and of private individuals to receive, title to land. The justices ultimately answered, in the case of Johnson v. M'Into...
City of Los Angeles v. Patel: Court Mandates Pre-Clearance Review
On June 22, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a City of Los Angeles ordinance that required hotel operators to allow law enforcement to inspect guest registries without obtaining a warrant. The 5-4 majority in City of Los Angeles v. Patel, 57...
Dartmouth College v. Woodward: The Contracts Clause
In Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 17 U.S. 518 (1819), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the U.S. Constitution’s Contracts Clause prohibited state legislatures from interfering with individual property rights. Accordingly, the Court invalidated a ...
Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee: The Supreme Court’s Authority Over State Courts
In Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee, 14 U.S. 304 (1816), the U.S. Supreme Court first asserted its authority to overrule a state court decision regarding an issue of federal law. The Court’s landmark decision was rooted in the Court’s appellate jur...
Municipal Sign Ordinance Violates the First Amendment in Reed v. Town of Gilbert
On June 18, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court held that an Arizona town’s sign ordinance violates the First Amendment. The Court’s unanimous decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert established that regulations that are facially content-based must be subje...
New York v. Connecticut: Court’s First Exercise of Original Jurisdiction
In New York v. Connecticut, 4 U.S. 1 (1799), the U.S. Supreme Court first exercised its original jurisdiction to decide a legal dispute between two states. The dispute involved a strip of land over which the states of New York and Connecticut both c...
Calder v. Bull: The Ex Post Facto Clause
In Calder v. Bull, 3 U.S. 386 (1798), the U.S. Supreme Court first interpreted the ex post facto clause of the United States Constitution. The justices held that the clause only applies to certain criminal acts. The Facts of Calder v. Bull Calder ...
Arizona Redistricting Again
On June 29, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Arizona’s use of an independent commission to adopt congressional districts. In her majority opinion in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, 576 U. S. ____ (2015)...
Hollingsworth v. Virginia: The President’s Role in Constitutional Amendments
In Hollingsworth v. Virginia, 3 U.S. 378 (1798), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Eleventh Amendment was valid, even though the President of the United States had not formally sanctioned it. While the rationale of the Court has been debated, ...
Court Confirms Disparate Impact Claims Allowed Under Fair Housing Act
In Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, 576 U. S. ____ (2015), the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that disparate-impact claims are cognizable under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The 5-4 decision end...
Previous Articles
SCOTUS to Consider High-Profile Transgender Rights Case in December
by DONALD SCARINCI on November 12, 2024
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti on December 4, 2024. T...
SCOTUS Clarifies Standard for Retaliatory Arrest Claims
by DONALD SCARINCI on November 5, 2024
In Gonzalez v. Trevino, 602 U.S. ___ (2024), the U.S. Supreme Court held that plaintiffs are not re...
Supreme Court Clarifies Application of Confrontation Clause to Forensic Analysis
by DONALD SCARINCI on October 28, 2024
In Smith v. Arizona, 602 U.S. ____ (2024), the U.S. Supreme Court held that when an expert conveys ...
