The Law To Know

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Case Briefs

Real, decided cases — 400 briefs so far, organized by course. Each one covers the facts, the issue, the holding, the court’s reasoning, and why the case still matters today. Every citation, fact, and holding is checked against real sources before publishing — never invented, never AI-generated from memory alone. Part of the All-Access catalog, alongside the courses.

Contract Law

Consequential Damages & Foreseeability

Hadley v. Baxendale

156 Eng. Rep. 145, 9 Ex. 341 (1854) — Court of Exchequer (England), 1854

Objective Theory of Assent

Lucy v. Zehmer

196 Va. 493, 84 S.E.2d 516 (1954) — Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, 1954

Expectation Damages

Hawkins v. McGee

84 N.H. 114, 146 A. 641 (1929) — Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 1929

Substantial Performance

Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. Kent

230 N.Y. 239, 129 N.E. 889 (1921) — New York Court of Appeals, 1921

Consideration

Hamer v. Sidway

124 N.Y. 538, 27 N.E. 256 (1891) — New York Court of Appeals, 1891

Implied Promises & Illusory Contracts

Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon

222 N.Y. 88, 118 N.E. 214 (1917) — New York Court of Appeals, 1917

Impossibility & Frustration of Purpose

Taylor v. Caldwell

3 B. & S. 826, 122 Eng. Rep. 309 (Q.B. 1863) — Court of Queen's Bench (England), 1863

Promissory Estoppel

Ricketts v. Scothorn

57 Neb. 51, 77 N.W. 365 (1898) — Supreme Court of Nebraska, 1898

Offer & Acceptance (Unilateral Contracts)

Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.

[1893] 1 Q.B. 256 — Court of Appeal (England), 1893

Mutual Mistake & Mutual Assent

Raffles v. Wichelhaus

(1864) 2 Hurl. & C. 906, 159 Eng. Rep. 375 — Court of Exchequer (England), 1864

Unconscionability

Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co.

350 F.2d 445 (D.C. Cir. 1965) — United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1965

Mutual Mistake as to Existing Fact

Sherwood v. Walker

66 Mich. 568, 33 N.W. 919 (1887) — Supreme Court of Michigan, 1887

Offer & Acceptance (Advertisements)

Lefkowitz v. Great Minneapolis Surplus Store, Inc.

251 Minn. 188, 86 N.W.2d 689 (1957) — Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1957

Offer & Acceptance (Advertisements)

Leonard v. Pepsico, Inc.

88 F. Supp. 2d 116 (S.D.N.Y. 1999), aff'd 210 F.3d 88 (2d Cir. 2000) — United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1999

Remedies (Cost of Completion)

Groves v. John Wunder Co.

205 Minn. 163, 286 N.W. 235 (1939) — Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1939

Remedies (Diminution in Value)

Peevyhouse v. Garland Coal & Mining Co.

382 P.2d 109 (Okla. 1962) — Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1962

Formation (Shrinkwrap & Standard-Form Licenses)

ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg

86 F.3d 1447 (7th Cir. 1996) — United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1996

Consideration (Adequacy)

Batsakis v. Demotsis

226 S.W.2d 673 (Tex. Civ. App. 1949) — Texas Court of Civil Appeals, 1949

Promissory Estoppel (Precontractual Negotiations)

Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, Inc.

26 Wis. 2d 683, 133 N.W.2d 267 (1965) — Supreme Court of Wisconsin, 1965

Ambiguous Terms & Objective Contract Interpretation

Frigaliment Importing Co. v. B.N.S. International Sales Corp.

190 F. Supp. 116 (S.D.N.Y. 1960) — United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1960

The Objective Theory of Contract Formation

Embry v. Hargadine, McKittrick Dry Goods Co.

127 Mo. App. 383, 105 S.W. 777 (1907) — St. Louis Court of Appeals, Missouri, 1907

The Pre-Existing Duty Rule & Economic Duress

Alaska Packers' Association v. Domenico

117 F. 99 (9th Cir. 1902) — United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1902

Frustration of Purpose

Krell v. Henry

[1903] 2 K.B. 740 — Court of Appeal (England and Wales), 1903

Moral Obligation & the Material Benefit Rule

Webb v. McGowin

27 Ala. App. 82, 168 So. 196 (1935) — Court of Appeals of Alabama, 1935

Offer vs. Preliminary Negotiation

Lonergan v. Scolnick

129 Cal. App. 2d 179, 276 P.2d 8 (1954) — California Court of Appeal, 1954

Tort Law

Duty & Proximate Cause

Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co.

248 N.Y. 339, 162 N.E. 99 (1928) — New York Court of Appeals, 1928

Product Liability & Privity

MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co.

217 N.Y. 382, 111 N.E. 1050 (1916) — New York Court of Appeals, 1916

The Negligence Calculus (Hand Formula)

United States v. Carroll Towing Co.

159 F.2d 169 (2d Cir. 1947) — United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1947

Privilege to Use Force in Defense of Property

Katko v. Briney

183 N.W.2d 657 (Iowa 1971) — Supreme Court of Iowa, 1971

Strict Liability

Rylands v. Fletcher

L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) — House of Lords (England), 1868

Defamation

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan

376 U.S. 254 (1964) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1964

Res Ipsa Loquitur

Byrne v. Boadle

2 H. & C. 722, 159 Eng. Rep. 299 (Ex. 1863) — Court of Exchequer (England), 1863

Battery & the Eggshell Skull Rule

Vosburg v. Putney

80 Wis. 523, 50 N.W. 403 (1891) — Supreme Court of Wisconsin, 1891

Duty to Protect Third Persons

Tarasoff v. Regents of University of California

17 Cal. 3d 425, 551 P.2d 334 (1976) — Supreme Court of California, 1976

Causation (Alternative Liability)

Summers v. Tice

33 Cal. 2d 80, 199 P.2d 1 (1948) — Supreme Court of California, 1948

Foundations of Strict Products Liability

Escola v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

24 Cal. 2d 453, 150 P.2d 436 (1944) — Supreme Court of California, 1944

Intent (Battery by a Minor)

Garratt v. Dailey

46 Wash. 2d 197, 279 P.2d 1091 (1955) — Supreme Court of Washington, 1955

Products Liability & Punitive Damages

Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants

No. CV-93-02419, 1995 WL 360309 (Bernalillo County Dist. Ct., N.M. Aug. 18, 1994) — Second Judicial District Court, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 1994

Products Liability & Punitive Damages (Cost-Benefit Design Defects)

Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Co.

119 Cal. App. 3d 757, 174 Cal. Rptr. 348 (1981) — California Court of Appeal, 1981

Proximate Cause & Foreseeability

Overseas Tankship (U.K.) Ltd. v. Morts Dock & Engineering Co. (The Wagon Mound No. 1)

[1961] A.C. 388 — Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 1961

Res Ipsa Loquitur (Multiple Defendants)

Ybarra v. Spangard

25 Cal. 2d 486, 154 P.2d 687 (1944) — Supreme Court of California, 1944

Market-Share Liability

Hymowitz v. Eli Lilly & Co.

73 N.Y.2d 487, 539 N.E.2d 1069 (1989) — New York Court of Appeals, 1989

The Reasonable Person Standard (Origins)

Vaughan v. Menlove

(1837) 3 Bing. N.C. 468, 132 Eng. Rep. 490 — Court of Common Pleas (England), 1837

Constitutional Limits on Punitive Damages

BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore

517 U.S. 559 (1996) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1996

Duty - The Rescue Doctrine

Wagner v. International Railway Co.

232 N.Y. 176, 133 N.E. 437 (1921) — New York Court of Appeals, 1921

Negligence vs. Strict Liability for Ordinary Activities

Hammontree v. Jenner

20 Cal. App. 3d 528 (1971) — California Court of Appeal, 1971

Custom Is Not Conclusive of Due Care

The T.J. Hooper

60 F.2d 737 (2d Cir. 1932) — United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1932

Landlord's Duty to Protect Tenants From Foreseeable Crime

Kline v. 1500 Massachusetts Avenue Apartment Corp.

439 F.2d 477 (D.C. Cir. 1970) — United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1970

Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress - Bystander Recovery

Dillon v. Legg

68 Cal. 2d 728, 441 P.2d 912 (1968) — Supreme Court of California, 1968

Market Share Liability - Origin of the Doctrine

Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories

26 Cal. 3d 588, 607 P.2d 924 (1980) — Supreme Court of California, 1980

Criminal Law

Actus Reus & Mens Rea

Regina v. Cunningham

[1957] 2 Q.B. 396 — Court of Appeal (England), 1957

Homicide (Premeditation & Deliberation)

Commonwealth v. Carroll

412 Pa. 525, 194 A.2d 911 (1963) — Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1963

Inchoate Offenses (Attempt)

People v. Rizzo

246 N.Y. 334, 158 N.E. 888 (1927) — New York Court of Appeals, 1927

Defenses (Insanity)

M'Naghten's Case

10 Cl. & Fin. 200, 8 Eng. Rep. 718 (1843) — House of Lords (England), 1843

Conspiracy & Accomplice Liability

Pinkerton v. United States

328 U.S. 640 (1946) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1946

Defenses (Self-Defense)

People v. Goetz

68 N.Y.2d 96, 497 N.E.2d 41, 506 N.Y.S.2d 18 (1986) — New York Court of Appeals, 1986

Homicide (Felony Murder)

People v. Stamp

2 Cal. App. 3d 203, 82 Cal. Rptr. 598 (1969) — California Court of Appeal, 1969

Accomplice Liability (Aiding and Abetting)

Wilcox v. Jeffery

[1951] 1 All E.R. 464 — King's Bench Division (England), 1951

Defenses (Necessity)

Regina v. Dudley and Stephens

(1884) 14 Q.B.D. 273 — Queen's Bench Division (England), 1884

Defenses (Insanity - the Product Test)

Durham v. United States

214 F.2d 862 (D.C. Cir. 1954) — United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1954

Constitutional Limits on Criminal Law (Status Crimes)

Robinson v. California

370 U.S. 660 (1962) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1962

Mens Rea & Due Process (Notice)

Lambert v. California

355 U.S. 225 (1957) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1957

The Death Penalty & the Eighth Amendment

Furman v. Georgia

408 U.S. 238 (1972) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

The Death Penalty & the Eighth Amendment

Gregg v. Georgia

428 U.S. 153 (1976) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1976

Defenses (Necessity - the American Counterpart to Dudley and Stephens)

United States v. Holmes

26 F. Cas. 360 (C.C.E.D. Pa. 1842) — Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1842

Mens Rea & Strict Liability

Morissette v. United States

342 U.S. 246 (1952) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1952

Mens Rea for Regulatory Firearms Offenses

Staples v. United States

511 U.S. 600 (1994) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1994

Burden of Proof for Affirmative Defenses

Patterson v. New York

432 U.S. 197 (1977) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1977

Burden of Proof (Beyond a Reasonable Doubt)

In re Winship

397 U.S. 358 (1970) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1970

Statutory Interpretation & the Definition of "Human Being"

Keeler v. Superior Court

2 Cal. 3d 619, 470 P.2d 617 (1970) — Supreme Court of California, 1970

Actus Reus - The Voluntary Act Requirement

Martin v. State

31 Ala. App. 334, 17 So. 2d 427 (1944) — Alabama Court of Appeals, 1944

The Voluntary Act at an Earlier Point in Time

People v. Decina

2 N.Y.2d 133, 138 N.E.2d 799 (1956) — New York Court of Appeals, 1956

Self-Defense - The Aggressor Doctrine

United States v. Peterson

483 F.2d 1222 (D.C. Cir. 1973) — United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1973

Rape - The Force and Resistance Requirement

State v. Rusk

289 Md. 230, 424 A.2d 720 (1981) — Court of Appeals of Maryland, 1981

Felony Murder - Limits on the Doctrine

People v. Aaron

409 Mich. 672, 299 N.W.2d 304 (1980) — Supreme Court of Michigan, 1980

Void for Vagueness

Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville

405 U.S. 156 (1972) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

Constitutional Law

Judicial Review

Marbury v. Madison

5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1803

Federalism & Implied Powers

McCulloch v. Maryland

17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 316 (1819) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1819

Equal Protection

Brown v. Board of Education

347 U.S. 483 (1954) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1954

First Amendment (Student Speech)

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District

393 U.S. 503 (1969) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1969

Sixth Amendment & Incorporation

Gideon v. Wainwright

372 U.S. 335 (1963) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1963

The Commerce Clause

Wickard v. Filburn

317 U.S. 111 (1942) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1942

Substantive Due Process & the Right to Privacy

Griswold v. Connecticut

381 U.S. 479 (1965) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1965

The Free Exercise Clause

Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith

494 U.S. 872 (1990) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1990

Equal Protection & Strict Scrutiny

Korematsu v. United States

323 U.S. 214 (1944) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1944

The Commerce Clause (Modern Limits)

United States v. Lopez

514 U.S. 549 (1995) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1995

Executive Privilege & Separation of Powers

United States v. Nixon

418 U.S. 683 (1974) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1974

Justiciability & the Political Question Doctrine

Baker v. Carr

369 U.S. 186 (1962) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1962

Substantive Due Process (Abortion)

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

597 U.S. 215 (2022) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2022

The Second Amendment

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen

597 U.S. 1 (2022) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2022

Equal Protection (Affirmative Action)

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College

600 U.S. 181 (2023) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2023

The First Amendment (Compelled Speech)

303 Creative LLC v. Elenis

600 U.S. 570 (2023) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2023

Executive Power (Presidential Immunity)

Trump v. United States

603 U.S. 593 (2024) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2024

Equal Protection (Superseded by Brown v. Board)

Plessy v. Ferguson

163 U.S. 537 (1896) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1896

Substantive Due Process (Economic Liberty of Contract)

Lochner v. New York

198 U.S. 45 (1905) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1905

Substantive Due Process (The End of the Lochner Era)

West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish

300 U.S. 379 (1937) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1937

Substantive Due Process (Superseded by Dobbs)

Roe v. Wade

410 U.S. 113 (1973) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1973

The First Amendment (Campaign Finance & Corporate Speech)

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

558 U.S. 310 (2010) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2010

The First Amendment (Symbolic Speech)

Texas v. Johnson

491 U.S. 397 (1989) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1989

The First Amendment (Origins of Modern Free Speech Doctrine)

Schenck v. United States

249 U.S. 47 (1919) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1919

The Taxing Power & the Commerce Clause

National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius

567 U.S. 519 (2012) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2012

The Second Amendment - An Individual Right

District of Columbia v. Heller

554 U.S. 570 (2008) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2008

The Commerce Clause & Purely Intrastate Activity

Gonzales v. Raich

545 U.S. 1 (2005) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2005

First Amendment Protection for Offensive Public Speech

Snyder v. Phelps

562 U.S. 443 (2011) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2011

Free Exercise, Compelled Speech, and Anti-Discrimination Law

Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission

584 U.S. 617 (2018) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2018

Federalism & the Voting Rights Act's Coverage Formula

Shelby County v. Holder

570 U.S. 529 (2013) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2013

Property Law

First Possession & Acquisition of Property

Pierson v. Post

3 Cai. R. 175, 2 Am. Dec. 264 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1805) — Supreme Court of New York, 1805

Servitudes & the State Action Doctrine

Shelley v. Kraemer

334 U.S. 1 (1948) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1948

Land Use Regulation & Takings

Kelo v. City of New London

545 U.S. 469 (2005) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2005

Landlord-Tenant Law

Javins v. First National Realty Corp.

428 F.2d 1071 (D.C. Cir. 1970) — United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1970

Adverse Possession

Mannillo v. Gorski

54 N.J. 378, 255 A.2d 258 (1969) — Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1969

Implied Easements

Van Sandt v. Royster

148 Kan. 495, 83 P.2d 698 (1938) — Supreme Court of Kansas, 1938

Concurrent Ownership (Tenancy by the Entirety)

Sawada v. Endo

57 Haw. 608, 561 P.2d 1291 (1977) — Supreme Court of Hawaii, 1977

Estates & Will Construction

White v. Brown

559 S.W.2d 938 (Tenn. 1977) — Supreme Court of Tennessee, 1977

First Possession & Original Acquisition of Title

Johnson v. M'Intosh

21 U.S. (8 Wheat.) 543 (1823) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1823

Finders' Rights

Armory v. Delamirie

(1722) 1 Strange 505, 93 Eng. Rep. 664 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1722

Property Rights in the Human Body

Moore v. Regents of University of California

51 Cal. 3d 120, 793 P.2d 479 (1990) — Supreme Court of California, 1990

Quasi-Property in Intangible Information

International News Service v. Associated Press

248 U.S. 215 (1918) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1918

Regulatory Takings (Permanent Physical Occupation)

Loretto v. Teleprompter Manhattan CATV Corp.

458 U.S. 419 (1982) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1982

Regulatory Takings (Exactions)

Nollan v. California Coastal Commission

483 U.S. 825 (1987) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1987

Property Interests & Procedural Due Process

Board of Regents v. Roth

408 U.S. 564 (1972) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

The Constitutionality of Zoning

Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.

272 U.S. 365 (1926) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1926

Regulatory Takings (The Core Balancing Test)

Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City

438 U.S. 104 (1978) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1978

Regulatory Takings (Total Loss of Economic Use)

Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council

505 U.S. 1003 (1992) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1992

Regulatory Takings (Timing of Acquisition)

Palazzolo v. Rhode Island

533 U.S. 606 (2001) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2001

Regulatory Takings (Rough Proportionality in Exactions)

Dolan v. City of Tigard

512 U.S. 374 (1994) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1994

Nuisance Remedies - Damages vs. Injunction

Boomer v. Atlantic Cement Co.

26 N.Y.2d 219, 257 N.E.2d 870 (1970) — New York Court of Appeals, 1970

Nuisance - Coming to the Nuisance

Spur Industries, Inc. v. Del E. Webb Development Co.

108 Ariz. 178, 494 P.2d 700 (1972) — Supreme Court of Arizona, 1972

Landlord-Tenant Law - Duty to Mitigate Damages

Sommer v. Kridel

74 N.J. 446, 378 A.2d 767 (1977) — Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1977

Found Property - Finder's Rights vs. the Locus in Quo Owner

Hannah v. Peel

[1945] K.B. 509 — King's Bench Division (England and Wales), 1945

First Possession - Custom as a Rule of Capture

Ghen v. Rich

8 F. 159 (D. Mass. 1881) — United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1881

Implied Reciprocal Negative Easements

Sanborn v. McLean

233 Mich. 227, 206 N.W. 496 (1925) — Supreme Court of Michigan, 1925

Civil Procedure

Jurisdiction & Venue

International Shoe Co. v. Washington

326 U.S. 310 (1945) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1945

The Erie Doctrine

Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins

304 U.S. 64 (1938) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1938

Pleadings

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly

550 U.S. 544 (2007) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2007

Preclusion

Parklane Hosiery Co. v. Shore

439 U.S. 322 (1979) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1979

Jurisdiction & Venue

Pennoyer v. Neff

95 U.S. 714 (1878) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1878

Personal Jurisdiction (Minimum Contacts)

World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson

444 U.S. 286 (1980) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1980

Summary Judgment

Celotex Corp. v. Catrett

477 U.S. 317 (1986) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1986

Discovery

Hickman v. Taylor

329 U.S. 495 (1947) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1947

Pleadings (Plausibility Standard)

Ashcroft v. Iqbal

556 U.S. 662 (2009) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2009

Personal Jurisdiction (Purposeful Availment via Contract)

Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz

471 U.S. 462 (1985) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1985

Jurisdiction (Quasi In Rem After International Shoe)

Shaffer v. Heitner

433 U.S. 186 (1977) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1977

Federal Common Law in Diversity Cases (Pre-Erie)

Swift v. Tyson

41 U.S. (16 Pet.) 1 (1842) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1842

General Personal Jurisdiction (Corporations)

Daimler AG v. Bauman

571 U.S. 117 (2014) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2014

General Personal Jurisdiction (Foreign Subsidiaries)

Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown

564 U.S. 915 (2011) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2011

Specific Jurisdiction (Stream of Commerce)

J. McIntyre Machinery, Ltd. v. Nicastro

564 U.S. 873 (2011) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2011

Class Actions & Due Process

Hansberry v. Lee

311 U.S. 32 (1940) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1940

Nonparty Preclusion

Taylor v. Sturgell

553 U.S. 880 (2008) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2008

Supplemental (Ancillary) Jurisdiction

Owen Equipment & Erection Co. v. Kroger

437 U.S. 365 (1978) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1978

Due Process & Adequate Notice

Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co.

339 U.S. 306 (1950) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1950

General Personal Jurisdiction (Early Limits)

Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall

466 U.S. 408 (1984) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1984

Diversity Jurisdiction (Corporate Citizenship)

Hertz Corp. v. Friend

559 U.S. 77 (2010) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2010

The Old Notice-Pleading Standard

Conley v. Gibson

355 U.S. 41 (1957) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1957

Notice Pleading in Employment Discrimination Claims

Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A.

534 U.S. 506 (2002) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2002

Supplemental Jurisdiction & Amount in Controversy

Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Allapattah Services, Inc.

545 U.S. 546 (2005) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2005

Forum Non Conveniens

Piper Aircraft Co. v. Reyno

454 U.S. 235 (1981) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1981

The Summary Judgment Standard

Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.

477 U.S. 242 (1986) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1986

Class Action Certification Requirements

Amchem Products, Inc. v. Windsor

521 U.S. 591 (1997) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1997

Evidence Law

Relevance (Rule 403)

Old Chief v. United States

519 U.S. 172 (1997) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1997

Character Evidence

Michelson v. United States

335 U.S. 469 (1948) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1948

Hearsay & the Confrontation Clause

Crawford v. Washington

541 U.S. 36 (2004) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2004

Expert Testimony

Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

509 U.S. 579 (1993) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1993

Hearsay Exceptions (Statements Against Interest)

Williamson v. United States

512 U.S. 594 (1994) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1994

Privileges (Attorney-Client Privilege)

Upjohn Co. v. United States

449 U.S. 383 (1981) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1981

Hearsay Exemptions (Coconspirator Statements)

Bourjaily v. United States

483 U.S. 171 (1987) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1987

Character Evidence (Rule 404(b))

Huddleston v. United States

485 U.S. 681 (1988) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1988

Hearsay & the Confrontation Clause (Pre-Crawford Standard)

Ohio v. Roberts

448 U.S. 56 (1980) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1980

Hearsay Exemptions (Prior Consistent Statements)

Tome v. United States

513 U.S. 150 (1995) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1995

Confrontation Clause & Forensic Evidence

Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts

557 U.S. 305 (2009) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2009

Child Hearsay & Particularized Guarantees of Trustworthiness

Idaho v. Wright

497 U.S. 805 (1990) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1990

Expert Testimony (The Daubert Standard)

Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

509 U.S. 579 (1993) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1993

Expert Testimony (Extending Daubert to Non-Scientific Experts)

Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael

526 U.S. 137 (1999) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1999

Expert Testimony (Standard of Appellate Review)

General Electric Co. v. Joiner

522 U.S. 136 (1997) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1997

Confrontation Clause (Forfeiture by Wrongdoing)

Giles v. California

554 U.S. 353 (2008) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2008

Confrontation Clause (Testimonial vs. Nontestimonial Statements)

Davis v. Washington

547 U.S. 813 (2006) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2006

Confrontation Clause (Forensic Lab Reports)

Williams v. Illinois

567 U.S. 50 (2012) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2012

The Business Records Exception's Limits

Palmer v. Hoffman

318 U.S. 109 (1943) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1943

Impeachment for Bias

United States v. Abel

469 U.S. 45 (1984) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1984

Due Process Right to Present a Defense Over Hearsay Rules

Chambers v. Mississippi

410 U.S. 284 (1973) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1973

Public Records - Opinions and Conclusions in Official Reports

Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey

488 U.S. 153 (1988) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1988

Confrontation Clause - Codefendant Confessions at a Joint Trial

Bruton v. United States

391 U.S. 123 (1968) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1968

Due Process Right to Expert Assistance

Ake v. Oklahoma

470 U.S. 68 (1985) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1985

Business & Commercial Law

Business Entities & Fiduciary Duty

Meinhard v. Salmon

249 N.Y. 458, 164 N.E. 545 (1928) — New York Court of Appeals, 1928

Corporate Governance & Purpose

Dodge v. Ford Motor Co.

204 Mich. 459, 170 N.W. 668 (1919) — Michigan Supreme Court, 1919

Duty of Care & the Business Judgment Rule

Smith v. Van Gorkom

488 A.2d 858 (Del. 1985) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1985

Securities Regulation

SEC v. W. J. Howey Co.

328 U.S. 293 (1946) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1946

Corporate Opportunity Doctrine

Guth v. Loft, Inc.

5 A.2d 503 (Del. 1939) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1939

Professional Liability & Privity

Ultramares Corp. v. Touche

255 N.Y. 170, 174 N.E. 441 (1931) — New York Court of Appeals, 1931

Antitrust (The Sherman Act & the Rule of Reason)

Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States

221 U.S. 1 (1911) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1911

Antitrust (Monopolization in Tech Markets)

United States v. Microsoft Corp.

253 F.3d 34 (D.C. Cir. 2001) — United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, 2001

Antitrust (Resale Price Maintenance)

Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc.

551 U.S. 877 (2007) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2007

Antitrust (Restraints on Compensation)

National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston

594 U.S. 69 (2021) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2021

Intellectual Property (Patent Eligibility)

Diamond v. Chakrabarty

447 U.S. 303 (1980) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1980

Intellectual Property (Copyright Fair Use)

Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.

510 U.S. 569 (1994) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1994

Intellectual Property (Patent Remedies)

eBay Inc. v. MercExchange, L.L.C.

547 U.S. 388 (2006) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2006

Intellectual Property (Patenting Natural Laws)

Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories, Inc.

566 U.S. 66 (2012) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2012

The Business Judgment Rule (Dividend Decisions)

Kamin v. American Express Co.

86 Misc. 2d 809, 383 N.Y.S.2d 807 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1976) — Supreme Court of New York, New York County, 1976

Directors' Duties in a Sale of the Company

Revlon, Inc. v. MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc.

506 A.2d 173 (Del. 1986) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1986

Defensive Tactics Against Hostile Takeovers

Unocal Corp. v. Mesa Petroleum Co.

493 A.2d 946 (Del. 1985) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1985

Entire Fairness (Controlling-Shareholder Mergers)

Weinberger v. UOP, Inc.

457 A.2d 701 (Del. 1983) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1983

Directors' Duty of Oversight

In re Caremark International Inc. Derivative Litigation

698 A.2d 959 (Del. Ch. 1996) — Delaware Court of Chancery, 1996

The Duty of Good Faith

In re The Walt Disney Co. Derivative Litigation

906 A.2d 27 (Del. 2006) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 2006

Securities Fraud & the Fraud-on-the-Market Theory

Basic Inc. v. Levinson

485 U.S. 224 (1988) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1988

Derivative Suits & Demand Futility

Aronson v. Lewis

473 A.2d 805 (Del. 1984) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1984

Board Interference With Shareholder Voting Rights

Blasius Industries, Inc. v. Atlas Corp.

564 A.2d 651 (Del. Ch. 1988) — Delaware Court of Chancery, 1988

Unocal Review vs. Revlon Duties in a Strategic Merger

Paramount Communications, Inc. v. Time Inc.

571 A.2d 1140 (Del. 1990) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1990

Corporate Officers' Fiduciary Duties

Gantler v. Stephens

965 A.2d 695 (Del. 2009) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 2009

Special Litigation Committees

Zapata Corp. v. Maldonado

430 A.2d 779 (Del. 1981) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1981

Parent-Subsidiary Fiduciary Duties & Self-Dealing

Sinclair Oil Corp. v. Levien

280 A.2d 717 (Del. 1971) — Supreme Court of Delaware, 1971

Administrative Law

Judicial Review of Agency Statutory Interpretation

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

467 U.S. 837 (1984) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1984

Arbitrary-and-Capricious Review of Rulemaking

Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Ass'n v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.

463 U.S. 29 (1983) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1983

Procedural Due Process in Agency Adjudication

Mathews v. Eldridge

424 U.S. 319 (1976) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1976

Grounds of Judicial Review (UK)

Council of Civil Service Unions v. Minister for the Civil Service

[1985] AC 374 (the "GCHQ case") — House of Lords (United Kingdom), 1985

Deference to Agency Interpretations (Below Chevron)

Skidmore v. Swift & Co.

323 U.S. 134 (1944) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1944

Statutory Constraints on Agency Procedure

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC

435 U.S. 519 (1978) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1978

Judicial Review of Agency Statutory Interpretation

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo

603 U.S. 369 (2024) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2024

Agency Adjudication & the Seventh Amendment

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy

603 U.S. 109 (2024) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2024

Presidential Removal Power & Independent Agencies

Humphrey's Executor v. United States

295 U.S. 602 (1935) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1935

Separation of Powers & the Removal Power

Bowsher v. Synar

478 U.S. 714 (1986) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1986

Separation of Powers & Dual For-Cause Removal

Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

561 U.S. 477 (2010) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2010

Arbitrary-and-Capricious Review of Policy Changes

FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc.

556 U.S. 502 (2009) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2009

Deference to an Agency's Own Regulations

Kisor v. Wilkie

588 U.S. 558 (2019) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2019

Judicial Review of the Administrative Record

Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Inc. v. Volpe

401 U.S. 402 (1971) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1971

The Substantial Evidence Standard

Universal Camera Corp. v. NLRB

340 U.S. 474 (1951) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1951

Reviewability of Agency Non-Enforcement Decisions

Heckler v. Chaney

470 U.S. 821 (1985) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1985

Deference to an Agency's Interpretation of Its Own Regulations

Auer v. Robbins

519 U.S. 452 (1997) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1997

Removal Power & Single-Director Independent Agencies

Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

591 U.S. 197 (2020) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2020

Arbitrary-and-Capricious Review of Agency Policy Rescission

Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California

591 U.S. 1 (2020) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2020

Equity & Trusts

Trustee's Duty of Loyalty

Keech v. Sandford

(1726) Sel Cas Ch 61, 25 Eng. Rep. 223 — Court of Chancery (England), 1726

Constituting a Trust

Milroy v. Lord

(1862) 4 De GF & J 264 — Court of Appeal in Chancery (England), 1862

Beneficiaries' Rights & Trust Termination

Saunders v. Vautier

(1841) 4 Beav. 115, 49 Eng. Rep. 282 — Court of Chancery (England), 1841

Equitable Remedies (Injunctions)

eBay Inc. v. MercExchange, L.L.C.

547 U.S. 388 (2006) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2006

Fiduciary Liability for Unauthorized Profit

Boardman v. Phipps

[1967] 2 A.C. 46 — House of Lords (England), 1967

Creating a Valid Express Trust (The Three Certainties)

Knight v. Knight

(1840) 3 Beav. 148, 49 Eng. Rep. 58 — Court of Chancery (England), 1840

Fiduciary Self-Dealing & Remedies for Breach

In re Estate of Rothko

43 N.Y.2d 305, 372 N.E.2d 291 (1977) — New York Court of Appeals, 1977

Assignment of a Future Interest (Gratuitous Gifts)

Speelman v. Pascal

10 N.Y.2d 313, 178 N.E.2d 723 (1961) — New York Court of Appeals, 1961

Constructive Trusts (Financial Contribution)

Hussey v. Palmer

[1972] 1 W.L.R. 1286 — Court of Appeal (England), 1972

Constructive Trusts (Common Intention)

Gissing v. Gissing

[1971] A.C. 886 — House of Lords (England), 1971

Beneficial Interests in the Matrimonial Home

Pettitt v. Pettitt

[1970] A.C. 777 — House of Lords (England), 1970

Certainty of Objects (Powers of Appointment)

Re Gulbenkian's Settlements

[1970] A.C. 508 — House of Lords (England), 1970

Certainty of Objects (Discretionary Trusts)

McPhail v. Doulton (Re Baden's Deed Trusts No. 1)

[1971] A.C. 424 — House of Lords (England), 1971

The Trustee's Standard of Care

Speight v. Gaunt

(1883) 9 App. Cas. 1 — House of Lords (England and Wales), 1883

Trustee Investment Duties in Practice

Nestlé v. National Westminster Bank plc

[1993] 1 WLR 1260 — Court of Appeal (England and Wales), 1993

Beneficiaries' Right to Trust Information

Schmidt v. Rosewood Trust Ltd

[2003] UKPC 26 — Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, 2003

Trustee Exemption Clauses & Their Limits

Armitage v. Nurse

[1998] Ch. 241 — Court of Appeal (England and Wales), 1998

Causation & Compensation for Breach of Trust

Target Holdings Ltd v. Redferns

[1996] AC 421 — House of Lords (England and Wales), 1996

Family Law

The Right to Marry

Loving v. Virginia

388 U.S. 1 (1967) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1967

The Right to Marry

Obergefell v. Hodges

576 U.S. 644 (2015) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2015

Child Custody & Parental Rights

Troxel v. Granville

530 U.S. 57 (2000) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2000

Property Division for Unmarried Cohabitants

Marvin v. Marvin

18 Cal. 3d 660, 557 P.2d 106 (1976) — Supreme Court of California, 1976

Custody & Equal Protection

Palmore v. Sidoti

466 U.S. 429 (1984) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1984

Parental Rights of Unwed Fathers

Stanley v. Illinois

405 U.S. 645 (1972) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

Divorce & Interstate Recognition (Full Faith and Credit)

Williams v. North Carolina

317 U.S. 287 (1942) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1942

Divorce & Access to the Courts

Boddie v. Connecticut

401 U.S. 371 (1971) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1971

Same-Sex Marriage & Federal Recognition

United States v. Windsor

570 U.S. 744 (2013) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2013

The Right to Marry

Zablocki v. Redhail

434 U.S. 374 (1978) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1978

Presumption of Legitimacy & Unwed Fathers' Rights

Michael H. v. Gerald D.

491 U.S. 110 (1989) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1989

Surrogacy Contracts

In re Baby M

109 N.J. 396, 537 A.2d 1227 (1988) — Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1988

Termination of Parental Rights (Standard of Proof)

Santosky v. Kramer

455 U.S. 745 (1982) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1982

Access to Courts in Parental-Rights Termination

M.L.B. v. S.L.J.

519 U.S. 102 (1996) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1996

Equal Protection & Gender-Based Alimony Statutes

Orr v. Orr

440 U.S. 268 (1979) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1979

Same-Sex Co-Parent Recognition Under the Uniform Parentage Act

Elisa B. v. Superior Court

37 Cal. 4th 108, 118 P.3d 660 (2005) — Supreme Court of California, 2005

Best Interests of the Child - Lifestyle Considerations

Painter v. Bannister

258 Iowa 1390, 140 N.W.2d 152 (1966) — Supreme Court of Iowa, 1966

Minors' Rights & Parental Consent for Abortion

Bellotti v. Baird

443 U.S. 622 (1979) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1979

Parental Rights & Religious Freedom in Education

Wisconsin v. Yoder

406 U.S. 205 (1972) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

Conflict of Laws

Domicile & Foundations

Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Manufacturing Co.

313 U.S. 487 (1941) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1941

Choice of Law in Torts

Babcock v. Jackson

12 N.Y.2d 473, 191 N.E.2d 279 (1963) — New York Court of Appeals, 1963

Recognition & Enforcement of Judgments

Fauntleroy v. Lum

210 U.S. 230 (1908) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1908

Constitutional Limits on Choice of Law

Allstate Insurance Co. v. Hague

449 U.S. 302 (1981) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1981

Choice of Law in Maritime & Admiralty Contexts

Lauritzen v. Larsen

345 U.S. 571 (1953) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1953

Forum-Selection Clauses

The Bremen v. Zapata Off-Shore Co.

407 U.S. 1 (1972) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

Recognition of Foreign Country Judgments

Hilton v. Guyot

159 U.S. 113 (1895) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1895

Forum-Selection Clauses (Consumer Contracts)

Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. v. Shute

499 U.S. 585 (1991) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1991

Constitutional Limits on Choice of Law

Home Insurance Co. v. Dick

281 U.S. 397 (1930) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1930

Choice of Law in Nationwide Class Actions

Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Shutts

472 U.S. 797 (1985) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1985

Choice of Law in Torts (Refining Interest Analysis)

Neumeier v. Kuehner

31 N.Y.2d 121, 286 N.E.2d 454 (1972) — New York Court of Appeals, 1972

Jurisdiction Based on Domicile

Milliken v. Meyer

311 U.S. 457 (1940) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1940

Choice of Law After a Federal Venue Transfer

Van Dusen v. Barrack

376 U.S. 612 (1964) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1964

Interest Analysis - Loss-Distribution vs. Conduct-Regulating Rules

Schultz v. Boy Scouts of America, Inc.

65 N.Y.2d 189, 480 N.E.2d 679 (1985) — New York Court of Appeals, 1985

Interest Analysis - Dram Shop Liability Across State Lines

Bernhard v. Harrah's Club

16 Cal. 3d 313, 546 P.2d 719 (1976) — Supreme Court of California, 1976

Full Faith and Credit & Workers' Compensation Exclusivity

Carroll v. Lanza

349 U.S. 408 (1955) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1955

Comparative Impairment in Wrongful Death Choice of Law

Reich v. Purcell

67 Cal. 2d 551, 432 P.2d 727 (1967) — Supreme Court of California, 1967

The Public Policy Exception to Lex Loci Delicti

Kilberg v. Northeast Airlines, Inc.

9 N.Y.2d 34, 172 N.E.2d 526 (1961) — New York Court of Appeals, 1961

Public International Law

Sources of International Law & Jurisdiction

The Case of the S.S. Lotus (France v. Turkey)

P.C.I.J. Series A, No. 10 (1927) — Permanent Court of International Justice, 1927

State Responsibility & the Law of the Sea

Corfu Channel Case (United Kingdom v. Albania)

1949 I.C.J. 4 — International Court of Justice, 1949

The Use of Force

Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States)

1986 I.C.J. 14 — International Court of Justice, 1986

International Criminal Law

Prosecutor v. Tadić

Case No. IT-94-1 (ICTY 1995/1997) — International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, 1997

Sources of International Law (Formation of Custom)

North Sea Continental Shelf Cases (Germany v. Denmark; Germany v. Netherlands)

1969 I.C.J. Rep. 3 — International Court of Justice, 1969

International Legal Personality

Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (Advisory Opinion)

1949 I.C.J. Rep. 174 — International Court of Justice, 1949

Customary International Law as Part of Domestic Law

The Paquete Habana

175 U.S. 677 (1900) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1900

Human Rights Enforcement (The Alien Tort Statute)

Filártiga v. Peña-Irala

630 F.2d 876 (2d Cir. 1980) — United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1980

Treaty Enforceability in Domestic Courts

Medellín v. Texas

552 U.S. 491 (2008) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2008

International Criminal Law (Origins)

Judgment of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg

1 Trial of the Major War Criminals (1946) — International Military Tribunal, 1946

Provisional Measures & Consular Rights

LaGrand Case (Germany v. United States of America)

2001 I.C.J. 466 — International Court of Justice, 2001

Consular Rights (The Companion Case to Medellín v. Texas)

Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (Mexico v. United States of America)

2004 I.C.J. 12 — International Court of Justice, 2004

Diplomatic Protection & Corporate Nationality

Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Co. (Belgium v. Spain)

1970 I.C.J. 3 — International Court of Justice, 1970

The Use of Force & International Humanitarian Law

Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons (Advisory Opinion)

1996 I.C.J. 226 — International Court of Justice, 1996

Territorial Sovereignty & Effective Occupation

Island of Palmas Case (United States v. The Netherlands)

2 R.I.A.A. 829 (Perm. Ct. Arb. 1928) — Permanent Court of Arbitration, 1928

Customary International Law & Territorial Sea Baselines

Fisheries Case (United Kingdom v. Norway)

1951 I.C.J. 116 — International Court of Justice, 1951

Transboundary Environmental Harm

Trail Smelter Arbitration (United States v. Canada)

3 R.I.A.A. 1905 (1941) — Arbitral Tribunal, 1941

Standing to Bring Claims Before the ICJ

South West Africa Cases (Ethiopia v. South Africa; Liberia v. South Africa)

1966 I.C.J. 6 — International Court of Justice, 1966

State Responsibility for Genocide

Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro)

2007 I.C.J. 43 — International Court of Justice, 2007

History of Law

The Common Law Tradition

Case of Prohibitions (Prohibitions del Roy)

(1607) 12 Co. Rep. 63, 77 Eng. Rep. 1342 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1607

The Common Law Tradition

Calvin's Case (Case of the Postnati)

(1608) 7 Co. Rep. 1a, 77 Eng. Rep. 377 — Court of Exchequer Chamber (England), 1608

The Common Law Tradition

Entick v. Carrington

19 Howell's State Trials 1029 (1765) — Court of Common Pleas (England), 1765

The Common Law Tradition

Somerset v. Stewart

(1772) 98 Eng. Rep. 499 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1772

The Common Law Tradition

Dr. Bonham's Case

(1610) 8 Co. Rep. 107, 77 Eng. Rep. 638 — Court of Common Pleas (England), 1610

The Common Law Tradition

The Case of Ship Money (R v. Hampden)

(1637) 3 State Trials 825 — Court of Exchequer (England), 1637

The Common Law Tradition

Bushell's Case

(1670) Vaughan 135, 124 Eng. Rep. 1006 — Court of Common Pleas (England), 1670

The Common Law Tradition

Ashby v. White

(1703) 2 Ld. Raym. 938, 92 Eng. Rep. 126 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1703

The Common Law Tradition

Gregson v. Gilbert (The Zong Case)

(1783) 3 Doug. K.B. 232 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1783

The Common Law Tradition

Darnel's Case (The Five Knights' Case)

(1627) 3 How. St. Tr. 1 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1627

The Common Law Tradition

Heydon's Case

(1584) 3 Co. Rep. 7a, 76 Eng. Rep. 637 — Court of Exchequer (England), 1584

The Common Law Tradition

Coggs v. Bernard

(1703) 2 Ld. Raym. 909, 92 Eng. Rep. 107 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1703

The Common Law Tradition

Winterbottom v. Wright

(1842) 10 M. & W. 109, 152 Eng. Rep. 402 — Court of Exchequer (England), 1842

The Supremacy of Equity Over the Common Law

The Earl of Oxford's Case

(1615) 1 Ch. Rep. 1, 21 Eng. Rep. 485 — Court of Chancery (England), 1615

Trial by Battle - A Medieval Survival Confronts Modern Law

Ashford v. Thornton

(1818) 1 B. & Ald. 405, 106 Eng. Rep. 149 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1818

The Right to Petition & Jury Independence From the Crown

The Trial of the Seven Bishops

12 How. St. Tr. 183 (1688) — Court of King's Bench (England), 1688

The Origin of "A Man's House Is His Castle"

Semayne's Case

(1604) 5 Co. Rep. 91a, 77 Eng. Rep. 194 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1604

The King Cannot Create New Law by Proclamation Alone

The Case of Proclamations

(1610) 12 Co. Rep. 74, 77 Eng. Rep. 1352 — Court of King's Bench (England), 1610

Law Enforcement

The Fourth Amendment on the Street

Terry v. Ohio

392 U.S. 1 (1968) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1968

Arrest & Interrogation

Miranda v. Arizona

384 U.S. 436 (1966) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1966

Use of Force & Officer Liability

Graham v. Connor

490 U.S. 386 (1989) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1989

Evidence & Courtroom Procedure

Mapp v. Ohio

367 U.S. 643 (1961) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1961

Probable Cause & Warrants

Illinois v. Gates

462 U.S. 213 (1983) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1983

Use of Deadly Force (Fleeing Suspects)

Tennessee v. Garner

471 U.S. 1 (1985) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1985

The Fourth Amendment on the Street (Traffic Stops)

Whren v. United States

517 U.S. 806 (1996) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1996

Use of Force (Vehicle Pursuits)

Scott v. Harris

550 U.S. 372 (2007) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2007

Vehicle Checkpoints

City of Indianapolis v. Edmond

531 U.S. 32 (2000) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2000

Sobriety Checkpoints

Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz

496 U.S. 444 (1990) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1990

Full Custodial Arrest for Minor Offenses

Atwater v. City of Lago Vista

532 U.S. 318 (2001) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2001

Stop-and-Identify Statutes

Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada

542 U.S. 177 (2004) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2004

Substantive Due Process & Police Pursuits

County of Sacramento v. Lewis

523 U.S. 833 (1998) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1998

Deadly Force to End a High-Speed Chase

Plumhoff v. Rickard

572 U.S. 765 (2014) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2014

The Provocation Doctrine Rejected

Los Angeles County v. Mendez

581 U.S. 420 (2017) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2017

Excessive Force Against Pretrial Detainees

Kingsley v. Hendrickson

576 U.S. 389 (2015) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2015

Random Stops Without Individualized Suspicion

Delaware v. Prouse

440 U.S. 648 (1979) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1979

Informational Checkpoints

Illinois v. Lidster

540 U.S. 419 (2004) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2004

Legislature

Congress's Structure & Powers

Powell v. McCormack

395 U.S. 486 (1969) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1969

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha

462 U.S. 919 (1983) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1983

Legislative-Executive Relations

Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer

343 U.S. 579 (1952) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1952

Statutory Interpretation

Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States

143 U.S. 457 (1892) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1892

Congress's Investigatory Power

McGrain v. Daugherty

273 U.S. 135 (1927) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1927

Legislative Immunity (Speech or Debate Clause)

Gravel v. United States

408 U.S. 606 (1972) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1972

How a Bill Becomes a Law (The Presentment Clause)

Clinton v. City of New York

524 U.S. 417 (1998) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1998

Congress's Structure (Congressional Apportionment)

Wesberry v. Sanders

376 U.S. 1 (1964) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1964

State Legislative Apportionment

Reynolds v. Sims

377 U.S. 533 (1964) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1964

Congressional Qualifications (State-Imposed Term Limits)

U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton

514 U.S. 779 (1995) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1995

Congress's Power to Regulate Campaign Finance

Buckley v. Valeo

424 U.S. 1 (1976) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1976

Federalism & the Limits of Implementing Legislation

Bond v. United States

572 U.S. 844 (2014) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2014

Early Nondelegation Doctrine - Fact-Finding Delegation

Field v. Clark

143 U.S. 649 (1892) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1892

The Intelligible Principle Test

J.W. Hampton, Jr., & Co. v. United States

276 U.S. 394 (1928) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1928

Nondelegation - A Rare Successful Challenge

Panama Refining Co. v. Ryan

293 U.S. 388 (1935) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1935

Limits on Congressional Investigatory Power

Watkins v. United States

354 U.S. 178 (1957) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1957

Balancing Congressional Investigatory Power Against First Amendment Rights

Barenblatt v. United States

360 U.S. 109 (1959) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1959

Judiciary

Court Hierarchy & Jurisdiction

Ex parte McCardle

74 U.S. (7 Wall.) 506 (1869) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1869

The Dual Court System (Article I vs. Article III Courts)

Stern v. Marshall

564 U.S. 462 (2011) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2011

The Prosecutor's Office

Imbler v. Pachtman

424 U.S. 409 (1976) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1976

Comparative Court Structures (Europe)

Van Gend en Loos v. Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen

Case 26/62, [1963] ECR 1 — Court of Justice of the European Communities, 1963

The Dual Court System (Article I vs. Article III Courts)

Northern Pipeline Construction Co. v. Marathon Pipe Line Co.

458 U.S. 50 (1982) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1982

Judicial Branch Structure & Separation of Powers

Mistretta v. United States

488 U.S. 361 (1989) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1989

Judicial Supremacy

Cooper v. Aaron

358 U.S. 1 (1958) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1958

The Political Question Doctrine (Impeachment)

Nixon v. United States

506 U.S. 224 (1993) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1993

Separation of Powers & Final Judgments

Plaut v. Spendthrift Farm, Inc.

514 U.S. 211 (1995) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1995

The Appointments Clause & Article I Tribunals

Freytag v. Commissioner

501 U.S. 868 (1991) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1991

The Appointments Clause & Administrative Adjudicators

Lucia v. Securities and Exchange Commission

585 U.S. 237 (2018) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2018

Separation of Powers & Legislation Affecting Pending Cases

Bank Markazi v. Peterson

578 U.S. 212 (2016) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2016

Judicial Restraint (Constitutional Avoidance)

Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority

297 U.S. 288 (1936) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1936

The Case-or-Controversy Requirement & Advisory Opinions

Muskrat v. United States

219 U.S. 346 (1911) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1911

Origins of the Political Question Doctrine

Luther v. Borden

48 U.S. (7 How.) 1 (1849) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1849

Standing as a Threshold Jurisdictional Requirement

Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Environment

523 U.S. 83 (1998) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1998

The Modern Three-Part Standing Test

Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife

504 U.S. 555 (1992) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1992

Partisan Gerrymandering as a Nonjusticiable Political Question

Rucho v. Common Cause

588 U.S. 684 (2019) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2019

Criminal Procedure

Fifth Amendment Self-Incrimination & Miranda

Miranda v. Arizona

384 U.S. 436 (1966) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1966

Fourth Amendment Search & Seizure (Stop and Frisk)

Terry v. Ohio

392 U.S. 1 (1968) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1968

The Exclusionary Rule

Mapp v. Ohio

367 U.S. 643 (1961) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1961

The Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel

Gideon v. Wainwright

372 U.S. 335 (1963) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1963

What Counts as a Fourth Amendment Search

Katz v. United States

389 U.S. 347 (1967) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1967

Sixth Amendment Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Strickland v. Washington

466 U.S. 668 (1984) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1984

Probable Cause for a Search Warrant

Illinois v. Gates

462 U.S. 213 (1983) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1983

Vehicle Searches Incident to Arrest

Arizona v. Gant

556 U.S. 332 (2009) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2009

Jury Selection & Equal Protection

Batson v. Kentucky

476 U.S. 79 (1986) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1986

Prosecutorial Disclosure of Exculpatory Evidence

Brady v. Maryland

373 U.S. 83 (1963) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1963

Technology & the Fourth Amendment

Kyllo v. United States

533 U.S. 27 (2001) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2001

Digital Privacy & Cell-Site Location Data

Carpenter v. United States

585 U.S. 296 (2018) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2018

Cell Phone Searches Incident to Arrest

Riley v. California

573 U.S. 373 (2014) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2014

Invoking (or Waiving) Miranda Rights

Berghuis v. Thompkins

560 U.S. 370 (2010) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2010

The Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel (Pre-Miranda)

Escobedo v. Illinois

378 U.S. 478 (1964) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1964

Miranda's Constitutional Status

Dickerson v. United States

530 U.S. 428 (2000) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2000

The Curtilage & Drug-Detection Dogs

Florida v. Jardines

569 U.S. 1 (2013) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2013

GPS Tracking & the Trespass Theory

United States v. Jones

565 U.S. 400 (2012) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2012

Exigent Circumstances (DUI Blood Draws)

Missouri v. McNeely

569 U.S. 141 (2013) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2013

The Good-Faith Exception to the Exclusionary Rule

Herring v. United States

555 U.S. 135 (2009) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2009

Search Incident to Arrest - Scope Limits

Chimel v. California

395 U.S. 752 (1969) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1969

Warrant Requirement to Arrest in the Home

Payton v. New York

445 U.S. 573 (1980) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1980

Reasonable Suspicion - Unprovoked Flight

Illinois v. Wardlow

528 U.S. 119 (2000) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2000

Passenger Standing During a Traffic Stop

Brendlin v. California

551 U.S. 249 (2007) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2007

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel in Plea Bargaining

Missouri v. Frye

566 U.S. 134 (2012) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2012

Reasonable Suspicion From a Vehicle Registration Check

Kansas v. Glover

589 U.S. 376 (2020) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2020

These briefs summarize real, publicly decided court opinions for educational purposes. They are not legal advice, and are not a substitute for reading the full opinion when accuracy matters for real work. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on any specific situation.