Learn biographical details on Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1991, the second African-American to serve on the court.

This site from the Cornell University School of Law provides a brief description of what happened during the Amistad Revolt and gives details concerning the Supreme Court that followed.

Find out how the First Amendment serves citizens in real life by reading about Daniel Ellsberg, Mary Beth Tinker, and Alton T. Lemon, all of whom were principal litigants in landmark Supreme Court cases regarding the freedom of expression.

An excellent and thorough website that explores the Election 2000. Includes information on the presidential race and election, as well as the races and elections for Congress and state governors. Also includes extensive coverage of the...

Travel throughout the Federal Judicial Center at this site. "The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency for the federal courts." This is a comprehensive site that outlines the publications, federal judicial history...

This slide and the six that follow it (use the advance button near the bottom of the screen) offer an explanation of each of the three branches of government and the duties they perform, including discussion of the tensions arising from...

In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott decision that African-Americans were not citizens of the United States. Yet within 18 years, Black Americans would not only have citizenship, but would be guaranteed the right to...

A lesson unit that looks at the efforts of the Cherokee Nation in Georgia between 1817 and 1827 to establish their own system of governance and to keep their lands from being ceded. Even though the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in their...

Joseph Story (1779-1845) was an influential United States Supreme Court Justice on the John Marshall court. Story's jurisprudence and legal thought were highly influential during his tenure on the court (1811-45). Story lived in the...

Associate justice of the United States Supreme Court and 5th Chief Justice of the California Supreme.

Bought in 1922 by liberal United States Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis (1856-1941), this Cape style house (whose construction dates to the late 19th century) was used by the Brandeis family as a summer retreat.

This 1877 frame house was the summer home of United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935). Holmes is known for his longevity on the bench, and his opinions on freedom of speech.

(1755-1835) Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

(1777-1864) "Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, who gave the decision in the Dred Scott Case." -Foster, 1921

Stephen Johnson Field (November 4, 1816 - April 9, 1899) was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from May 20, 1863, to December 1, 1897.

This site offers an extensive history of the 1971 Pentagon Papers case. Features include transcripts of President Nixon's tapes, White House phone conversations, memoirs, and other primary resources.

Very informative timeline that thoroughly explains the events surrounding the disputed Presidential Election of 2000. In particular, this article effectively chronicles the controversy in Florida. 12/2000

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides background information for the Amistad case, several of the actual documents involved in the case, and teaching activities that correlate the information (at the bottom of...

A popular introductory guide for American citizens and those of other countries who seek a greater understanding of our heritage of democracy. The question-and-answer format covers a broad range of topics dealing with the legislative,...

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is widely known as the Supreme Court decision that declared segregated schools to be "inherently unequal." The story behind the case, including that of the 1951 trial in a Kansas courtroom, is much...

This overview of censorship in the United States cites Supreme Court decisions and links to a number of other resources. (Date of Article: Sept. 13, 2002)

Learn about the Supreme Court ruling that outlawed school segregation in the United States.

This site contains a description of the juvenile justice system, background on the case involving Gerald Gault, and learning exercises for teachers to use in class.

An article from the University of Louisville about Justice John Harlan, who courageously cast the sole dissenting vote in the Plessy vs. Ferguson case, which approved of the principles of separate but equal.