The Most Important Court Cases in American History (opens in new tab)

1. Brown v. Board of Education, 1954This school desegregation decision was so important that Chief Justice Earl Warren made sure the judges were unanimous. And even with that, 20 or so years passed before it was actually enforced.2. Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857A shameful decision not to extend citizenship to descendants of slaves by a shameful court that helped precipitate the Civil War. Let us note, however, that the vote was 7–2, so bravo to Benjamin Robbins Curtis and John McLean.3. Marbur...