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"...
A first for the Supremes
This photographs shows the September 25, 1981, swearing-in of Sandra Day O’Connor—the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief Justice Warren...
A frustrated Truman
This page of a five-page diary entry was written by President Harry S. Truman on May 12, 1945. In this entry, the President vents his frustration with the Supreme...
A home for the Court
The neoclassical U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C., was designed by architects Cass Gilbert, Jr., and John R. Rockart. Although a coequal branch of the...
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...
Announcing the nomination
This draft press release from President Ronald Reagan’s administration announces the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor to become the first woman Justice of the...
Fireside chat
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats (there were 30 in all) were radio speeches he made describing important current events and political issues to the...