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1790 In New York City
the Supreme Court of the United States convenes for the first time.
1803 The Supreme Court of the United States, in ''Marbury v. Madison'', establishes the principle of judicial review.
1804 The Jeffersonian Republican-controlled United States Senate
begin an impeachment
trial against Federalist-partisan Supreme Court of the United States Justice Samuel Chase (he was charged with political bias but was acquitted by the Senate
of all charges on March 1, 1805).
1809 A decision by the Supreme Court of the United States states that the power of the federal government is greater than any individual state.
1841 The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the ''Amistad'' case that the Africa
ns who seized control of the ship had been taken into slavery
illegally.
1857 The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the ''Dred Scott v. Sandford'' case, driving the country further towards the American Civil War
.
1879 Women's rights
: American President
Rutherford B. Hayes
signs a bill allowing female attorney
s to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.
1883 The Supreme Court of the United States declares part of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 to be unconstitutional since the Court allowed private individuals and corporations to discriminate based on race.
1911 The United States Supreme Court
declares Standard Oil
to be an "unreasonable" monopoly
under the Sherman Antitrust Act and orders the company to be dissolved.
1916 In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad the Supreme Court of the United States upholds the federal income tax
1916 Louis D. Brandeis becomes the first Jew
appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
1922 A challenge to the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, allowing women the right to vote, is rebuffed by the Supreme Court of the United States.
1937 President
Franklin D. Roosevelt proposes a plan to enlarge the Supreme Court of the United States.
1937 New Deal
: The United States Senate
votes down President Franklin D. Roosevelt's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court of the United States.
1939 Sit-down strike
s are outlawed by the Supreme Court of the United States.
1964 In ''Wesberry v. Sanders'' 376 US 1 1964, the Supreme Court of the United States rules that congressional districts have to be approximately equal in population.
1966 The U.S. Supreme Court
rules in ''Miranda v. Arizona'' that the police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning them.
1967 Thurgood Marshall
is confirmed as the first African American
Justice of the United States Supreme Court
.
1969 The Senate
votes down the Supreme Court
nomination of Clement F. Haynsworth, the first such rejection since 1930.
1970 Vietnam War: The Supreme Court of the United States votes six to three not to hear a case by the state of Massachusetts
, about the constitutionality of a state law granting Massachusetts residents the right to refuse military service in an undeclared war.
1971 The Supreme Court of the United States rules unanimously that busing of students may be ordered to achieve racial desegregation.
1972 The Supreme Court of the United States rules that the death penalty is unconstitutional.
1976 The Supreme Court of the United States rules, in ''Gregg v. Georgia'', that the death penalty is not inherently cruel or unusual and is a constitutionally acceptable form of punishment.
1977 The Supreme Court of the United States rules that states are not required to spend Medicaid funds on elective abortions.
1978 The US Supreme Court
hands down 5-3 decision in ''Stump v. Sparkman'', 435 U.S. 349, a controversial case involving involuntary sterilization and judicial immunity.
1978 The Supreme Court of the United States, in the case of University of California Regents vs. Bakke, bars quota systems in college admissions but affirms the constitutionality of programs which give advantages to minorities.
1988 Anthony M. Kennedy is appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
1988 The Supreme Court of the United States sides with ''Hustler'' magazine by overturning a lower court decision to award Jerry Falwell $200,000 for defamation. (''Main article: Hustler Magazine v. Falwell'')
1991 Following a bitter confirmation hearing that involved allegations of sexual misconduct, the United States Senate
votes 52-48 to confirm Judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court of the United States.
1994 The Supreme Court of the United States rules in ''Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, In'' that parodies of an original work are generally covered by the doctrine of fair use.
1996 Gay rights: The Supreme Court of the United States rules, in ''Romer v. Evans'', against a law that would have prevented any city, town or county in the state of Colorado
from taking any legislative, executive, or judicial action to protect the rights of homosexuals
.
1998 Gay rights: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that federal laws banning on-the-job sexual harassment also apply when both parties are the same sex.
2003 The United States Supreme Court
hands down its decision in ''Eldred v. Ashcroft'', allowing the extension of copyright terms in the U.S.
2003 The Supreme Court of the United States, by a 5-4 margin, upholds California's "three strikes and you're out" law.
2003 The U.S. Supreme Court
upholds affirmative action in university admissions, in the case of ''Grutter v. Bollinger''.
2005 The U.S. Supreme Court
rules the death penalty unconstitutional for juveniles who committed their crimes before age 18.
2005 U.S. President George W. Bush
nominates Federal Appeals Court Judge Samuel Alito to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
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Timeline
