Most Important Rulings of the 20th Century

[Peter]

If I've forgotten something, please just post it.

Brown v. Board (1954)
Ended the Separate but Equal doctrine that segregated whites and blacks in the South.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
Held that the state could not stop married couples using contraception.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Held that the fifth amendment requires a suspect be informed of his rights before questioning.

Loving v. Virginia (1967)
Held that the state cannot ban inter-racial marriage.

Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972)
Held that the state cannot stop single persons using contraception.

Furman v. Georgia (1972)
Held the death penalty as unconstitutional because of the cruel and unusual aspects of some forms of it; Its inconsistent application to minority groups; And the lack of due process in trial and sentencing. Paritally reversed in 1976.

Roe v. Wade (1973)
Held abortions to be a constitutional right in the first and second trimesters and under some circumstances in the third.

Thompson v. Oklahoma (1988)
Held that it is cruel and unusual to execute those who were under 16 at the time of their offence.

Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Held that flag burning is protected speech.

Lawrence v. Texas (2000)
Held laws banning homosexual sodomy as unconstitutional.

[Peter]

Lawrence v. Texas is probably the precedent of our generation, but Brown v. Board and Griswold v. Connecticut will both have their place in history. Roe v. Wade isn't actually as ground-breakingly important as some people would like to believe.

For me, the most important ruling the Court handed down in the 20th century was Furman v. Georgia (and not because it ended the death penalty for 4 years). It returned sanity to a chaotic system of capital punishment: Many death penalty verdicts were handed down by Judges and were against black defendants and other minority groups. Whether one agrees with the outcome of the decision or not, this case showed the Supreme Court at its best: All nine Justices wrote opinions for this case and the manner in which the nine argue with one another through their opinions is simply brilliant. In total the concurrences and dissents add up to 200 pages and if you have a week to spare, its a brilliant and incisive exchange of ideas. If only we had giants like Brennan, Stewart and Blackmun these days.

I voted for Furman v. Georgia, Brown v. Board and Lawrence v. Texas.

[opebo]

The early 1970's were such a great time! - Roe V. Wade, Eisenstadt V. Baird..

That said, Lawrence V Texas is pretty enlightened too, for 2000.

I can't believe in America there were laws against use of contraceptives, abortion, or particular types of sex.  I wish they would declare laws against prostitution and drugs unconstitutional.

Though I suppose the more likely trend is back in the wrong direction.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Brown v. Board, Loving v. Virginia,  Furman v. Georgia

[Brutus]

Brown v. Board is at the top, in my opinion.

Segregation was an awful stain on an otherwise free society.

[DaleC76]

Brown vs Board, by far.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

If you choose to interpret the misspelled word Impotant in this thread's subject line differently, then clearly the three most Impotent rulings in this list are Griswold v. Connecticut. Eisenstadt v. Baird, and Roe v. Wade.