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Struck down laws banning the desecration of the American flag on the grounds that such acts are protected by the First Amendment as symbolic speech.

Required that criminal suspects be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police, leading to the creation of 'Miranda rights.'

Established the right to counsel for criminal defendants in state trials, even if they cannot afford one.

Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools by virtue of the First Amendment's establishment clause and the Fourteenth Amendment's application of the clause to the states.

Upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II as a permissible exercise of executive power during times of war. It was later criticized and discredited due to its discriminatory nature.

Struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), enabling the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages granted under state laws.

Established the principle of judicial review in the U.S., allowing the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution.

Declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, overturning Plessy v. Ferguson's 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Limited the power of the U.S. president to resist subpoenas in criminal prosecutions, leading to the concept of 'executive privilege' but ruling it is not absolute.

Invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage, ruling that they violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Protected the freedom of the press by establishing a heavy presumption against prior restraint, allowing the New York Times and the Washington Post to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment.

Struck down a Connecticut law banning the use of contraceptives, establishing the right to marital privacy and paving the way for Roe v. Wade.

Struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ruling that it was unconstitutional to use historical criteria to determine which states and localities were required to receive federal preclearance before changing their voting laws.

Confirmed the supremacy of national over state government, establishing that states cannot tax federal institutions.

Struck down the sodomy law in Texas and, by extension, invalidated sodomy laws in 13 other states, making same-sex sexual activity legal in every U.S. state and territory.

Enabled corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited funds on elections, arguing that political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment.

Established that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against 'unreasonable searches and seizures,' is inadmissible in state courts (exclusionary rule).

Held that juveniles convicted of non-homicidal crimes cannot be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Decided that redistricting issues present justiciable questions, thereby enabling federal courts to intervene in and to decide redistricting cases.

Held that the power to regulate interstate navigation was granted to Congress by the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

Upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Established the 'clear and present danger' test as a standard to determine when speech could be limited. This case involved punishment for anti-draft speech during World War I.

Defended students' First Amendment rights, ruling that students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.

Upheld an individual's right to possess a firearm for lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home, within the context of the Second Amendment.

Ended the 2000 Presidential election in favor of George W. Bush, ruling that the Florida recount was unconstitutional due to inconsistent standards in the counting process.

Legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy, establishing a trimester framework for abortion regulations.

Held that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court, and that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the federal territories.

Held that religious duty was not a defense to a criminal indictment. This case upheld the federal anti-bigamy statute, affirming that the First Amendment's religious freedoms do not allow polygamy.

Guaranteed the right to marriage for same-sex couples nationwide under the Fourteenth Amendment.