Important Court Cases
Court Cases That Changed The U.S. Law
U.S. vs. Virginia (1996)
U.S. vs. Virginia is a court case that struck down VMI, Virginia Military Institute, all males policy. The policy was overruled because VMI failed to persuade justification for the all males policy. This document is important because it stopped sex-based admission policy.
Texas vs. Johnson (1989)
Texas vs Johnson was a decision made by the court stating the invalidated prohibitions on destroying the american flag. The main person included in the court case was Gregory Lee. Gregory Lee burned an american flag as a sign of protest against Reagan administration policies. He was charged a year in jail and given a 2000 dollar fine, but then released due to the first amendment. It was significant because it stated whether flag burning constitutes "symbolic speech" protected by the first amendment.
McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819)
McCullouch vs. Maryland was another court case that made a dramatic change in the law. The state of Maryland passed a legislation to impose taxes on the bank. A man named James W. McCullouch, the cashier, refused to pay the bank.The bank of the U.S. has all the power to establish its branches within any state . The states have none.
U.S vs. Windsor (2013)
This court case is based off of homosexual marriage acceptance. Many believed that it is unconstitutional under the fifth amendment. The main people in charge of this is Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer a same sex couple living in New York and lawfully married in Ontario.This was a very recent and significant court case because it did not only change the law but also changed lives of others.