Public Interest Law Landmark Cases

In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation of public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the Court's previous decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had established the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

In Reynolds v. Sims (1964), the Supreme Court ruled that state legislative districts must be drawn with substantially equal populations, establishing the principle of 'one person, one vote'.

In Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of affirmative action programs in higher education, ruling that race could be considered as one factor among many in admissions decisions.

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and set national air quality standards.

In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the same First Amendment rights as individuals, allowing them to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

In MacPherson v. Buick Motor Company (1916), the New York Court of Appeals established the principle of strict liability for manufacturers of defective products, holding that manufacturers are liable for injuries caused by their products even if they were not negligent.

In Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council (1976), the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot ban commercial speech, holding that the First Amendment protects the right to advertise.

UCC Article 2, which governs the sale of goods, established the principle of 'implied warranty of merchantability', which requires that goods sold must be of a quality that is fit for the ordinary purpose for which they are sold.

In Memoirs v. Massachusetts (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot censor books based on their content, holding that the First Amendment protects the right to read.

In Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court ruled that laws that discriminate on the basis of race are subject to strict scrutiny, meaning that they must be narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government interest.

In Texas v. Johnson (1989), the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot ban flag burning, holding that the First Amendment protects the right to symbolic speech.

In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Supreme Court established the principle of 'equal protection under the law', holding that states cannot discriminate against individuals based on their race.

In Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson (1952), the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot censor movies based on their content, holding that the First Amendment protects the right to watch movies.

In NAACP v. Alabama (1958), the Supreme Court established the principle of 'freedom of association', holding that the government cannot compel individuals to disclose their membership in organizations.

In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot ban the sale of contraceptives, holding that the right to privacy includes the right to make decisions about one's own body.