TOP 10 MOST IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT CASES By: Chevelle Caldwell

BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION  Declared state laws that established having separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional.  Date Decided: May 17, 1954  Chief Justice Presiding: Earl Warren  Vote Split: 9-0.

MIRANDA V. ARIZONA  Deemed police had to follow certain procedures to ensure the protection of a criminal suspect's.  Date Decided: June 13, 1966  Chief Justice Presiding: Earl Warren  Vote Split: 5-4.

ROE V. WADE  Argued the rights of unborn children and woman's rights to chose. Date Decided: January 22, 1973  Chief Justice Presiding: Warren E. Burger  Vote Split: 7-2.

MARBURY V. MADISON  Established the basis for judicial review and the role of checks and balances.  Date Decided: February 23, 1803  Chief Justice Presiding: John Marshall  Vote Split: 4-0.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA V. HELLER  Concluded that the Second Amendment does protect an individual's right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in the military.  Date Decided: June 26, 2008  Chief Justice Presiding: John G. Roberts  Vote Split: 5-4.

CITIZENS UNITED V. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION  Declared the right of corporations to spend money influencing political campaigns  Date Decided: January 21, 2010  Chief Justice Presiding: John G. Roberts  Vote Split: 5-4.

PLESSY V. FERGUSON  Ruled that segregation laws did not contradict the 14th Amendment.  Date Decided: May 18, 1896  Chief Justice Presiding: Melville Weston Fuller  Vote Split:7-1.

BUSH V. GORE  Declared counting certain ballots by different methods than others violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourth Amendment  Date Decided: December 12, 2000  Chief Justice Presiding: William Rehnquist  Vote Split: 5-4.

LAWRENCE V. TEXAS  Declared Texas law prohibiting sodomy unconstitutional.  Date Decided: June 26, 2003  Chief Justice Presiding: William Rehnquist  Vote Split:6-3.

DRED SCOTT V. SANFORD  Declared that all blacks were not and could not become citizens of the United States.  Date Decided: March 6, 1857  Chief Justice Presiding: Roger B. Taney  Vote Split:7-2.