Plessy v. Ferguson
Issued on May 18, 1896, this Supreme Court decision upheld a Louisiana state law that allowed for "equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races"...
Affirming the right to representation
When Clarence Earl Gideon was accused of breaking and entering in Florida, he requested—but was denied—legal representation. Gideon was found guilty. On January...
Arrested for “being a person of the female sex” and voting
On November 18, 1872 a deputy U.S. marshal arrested Susan B. Anthony for voting in the 1872 presidential election. She was indicted two months later for voting...
Guilty of resisting relocation
In 1942, Gordon Hirabayashi, a Japanese American student at the University of Washington, refused to report to a relocation camp. His refusal defied Executive Order...
Judiciary Act of 1789
One of the first acts of the new Congress was to establish a Federal court system through the Judiciary Act, signed by President George Washington on September 24,...
Resolution of impeachment
The President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States can be removed from office by the impeachment process if convicted of crimes. This document...
Swearing in new citizens
Judge Michael Lambert Igoe served as a Representative from Illinois and as a U.S. attorney before being appointed U.S. district judge for northern Illinois on March...