List of overruled United States Supreme Court decisions explained
This is a list of decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States that have been explicitly overruled, in part or in whole, by a subsequent decision of the Court. It does not include decisions that have been abrogated by subsequent constitutional amendment or by subsequent amending statutes.
As of 2018, the Supreme Court had overruled more than 300 of its own cases.[1] The longest period between the original decision and the overruling decision is 136 years, for the common law Admiralty cases Minturn v. Maynard, 58 U.S. (17 How.) 476 decision in 1855, overruled by the Exxon Corp. v. Central Gulf Lines Inc., 500 U.S. 603 decision in 1991. The shortest period is 11 months, for the constitutional law Fourth Amendment (re: search and seizure) cases Robbins v. California, 453 U.S. 420 decision in July 1981, overruled by the United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798 decision in June 1982. There have been 16 decisions which have simultaneously overruled more than one earlier decision; of these, three have simultaneously overruled four decisions each: the statutory law regarding habeas corpus decision Hensley v. Municipal Court, 411 U.S. 345 (1973), the constitutional law Eleventh Amendment (re: sovereign immunity) decision Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651 (1974) and the constitutional law Fifth Amendment (re: double jeopardy) decision Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1 (1978).
Constitutional
Article One
- Commerce Clause
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Paul v. Virginia, 75 U.S. 168 (1869) | United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters Ass'n, 322 U.S. 533 (1944) |
Hammer v. Dagenhart, 247 U.S. 251 (1918) | United States v. Darby Lumber Co., 312 U.S. 100 (1941) |
Puget Sound Stevedoring Co. v. State Tax Commission, 302 U.S. 90 (1937) | Department of Revenue v. Washington Stevedoring Cos., 435 U.S. 734 (1978) |
Joseph v. Carter & Weekes Stevedoring Co., 330 U.S. 422 (1947) | Department of Revenue v. Washington Stevedoring Cos., 435 U.S. 734 (1978) |
Spector Motor Service v. O'Connor, 340 U.S. 602 (1951) | Complete Auto Transit v. Brady, 430 U.S. 274 (1977) |
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons v. Hostetter, 384 U.S. 35 (1966) | Healy v. Beer Institute, 491 U.S. 324 (1989) |
National League of Cities v. Usery, 426 U.S. 833 (1976) | Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority, 469 U.S. 528 (1985) |
Quill Corp. v. North Dakota, 504 U.S. 298 (1992) | South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., 585 U.S. ___ (2018) |
National Bellas Hess, Inc. v. Department of Revenue of Ill., 386 U.S. 753 (1967) | South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., 585 U.S. ___ (2018) | |
- Ex post facto
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Kring v. Missouri, 107 U.S. 221 (1883) | Collins v. Youngblood, 497 U.S. 37 (1990) |
Thompson v. Utah, 170 U.S. 343 (1898) | Collins v. Youngblood, 497 U.S. 37 (1990) | |
- Federal tax
- State import/export tax
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Low v. Austin, 80 U.S. (13 Wall.) 29 (1872) | Michelin Tire Corp. v. Wages, 423 U.S. 276 (1976) |
Hooven & Allison Co. v. Evatt, 324 U.S. 652 (1945) | Limbach v. Hooven & Allison Co., 466 U.S. 353 (1984) | |
- Article One courts
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Ex parte Bakelite Corp., 279 U.S. 438 (1929) | Glidden Co. v. Zdanok, 370 U.S. 530 (1962) |
Williams v. United States, 289 U.S. 553 (1933) | Glidden Co. v. Zdanok, 370 U.S. 530 (1962) |
O'Callahan v. Parker, 395 U.S. 258 (1969) | Solorio v. United States, 483 U.S. 435 (1987) | |
Article Three
- Compensation Clause
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Evans v. Gore, 253 U.S. 245 (1920) | United States v. Hatter, 532 U.S. 557 (2001) |
Miles v. Graham, 268 U.S. 501 (1925) | O'Malley v. Woodrough, 307 U.S. 277 (1939) | |
Article Four
- Extradition Clause
- Equal footing doctrine
- Full Faith and Credit
Article Six
- Supremacy Clause
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Reitz v. Mealey, 314 U.S. 33 (1941) | Perez v. Campbell, 402 U.S. 637 (1971) |
Kesler v. Department of Public Safety, 369 U.S. 153 (1962) | Perez v. Campbell, 402 U.S. 637 (1971) | |
First Amendment
- Establishment Clause
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971) | Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 597 U.S. ___ (2022) |
Meek v. Pittinger, 421 U.S. 349 (1975) | Mitchell v. Helms, 530 U.S. 793 (2000) |
Wolman v. Walter, 433 U.S. 229 (1977) | Mitchell v. Helms, 530 U.S. 793 (2000) |
School District of City of Grand Rapids v. Ball, 473 U.S. 373 (1985) | Agostini v. Felton, 521 U.S. 203 (1997) |
Aguilar v. Felton, 473 U.S. 402 (1985) | Agostini v. Felton, 521 U.S. 203 (1997) | |
- Free speech clause
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Whitney v. California, 274 U.S. 357 (1927) | Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969) |
Minersville School District v. Gobitis, 310 U.S. 586 (1940) | West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) |
Valentine v. Chrestensen, 316 U.S. 52 (1942) | Virginia State Pharmacy Board v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, 425 U.S. 748 (1976) |
Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476 (1957) | Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973) |
Amalgamated Food Employees Union Local 590 v. Logan Valley Plaza, 391 U.S. 308 (1968) | Hudgens v. National Labor Relations Board, 424 U.S. 507 (1976) |
Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 494 U.S. 652 (1990) | Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U.S. 310 (2010) |
McConnell v. Federal Election Commission, 540 U.S. 93 (2003) (in part) | Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U.S. 310 (2010) |
Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, 431 U.S. 209 (1977) | Janus v. AFSCME, 585 U.S. (2018) | |
Fourth Amendment
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438 (1928) | Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 (1967) |
Harris v. United States, 331 U.S. 145 (1947) | Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752 (1969) |
Wolf v. Colorado, 338 U.S. 25 (1949) | Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961) |
Lustig v. United States, 338 U.S. 74 (1949) | Elkins v. United States, 364 U.S. 206 (1960) |
United States v. Rabinowitz, 339 U.S. 56 (1950) | Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752 (1969) |
Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257 (1960) | United States v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83 (1980) |
Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108 (1964) | Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983) |
Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410 (1969) | Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213 (1983) |
Arkansas v. Sanders, 442 U.S. 753 (1979) | California v. Acevedo, 500 U.S. 565 (1991) |
Robbins v. California, 453 U.S. 420 (1981) | United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798 (1982) | |
Fifth Amendment
- Grand jury
- Double jeopardy
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Coffey v. United States, 116 U.S. 436 (1886) | United States v. One Assortment of 89 Firearms, 465 U.S. 354 (1984) |
Brantley v. Georgia, 217 U.S. 284 (1910) (per curiam) | Price v. Georgia, 398 U.S. 323 (1970) |
Palko v. Connecticut, 302 U.S. 319 (1937) | Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784 (1969) |
Bryan v. United States, 338 U.S. 552 (1950) | Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1 (1978) |
Sapir v. United States, 348 U.S. 373 (1955) | Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1 (1978) |
Yates v. United States, 354 U.S. 298 (1957) (in part) | Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1 (1978) |
Hoag v. New Jersey, 356 U.S. 464 (1958) | Ashe v. Swenson, 397 U.S. 436 (1970) |
Forman v. United States, 361 U.S. 416 (1960) | Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1 (1978) |
United States v. Jenkins, 420 U.S. 358 (1975) | United States v. Scott, 437 U.S. 82 (1978) |
United States v. Halper, 490 U.S. 435 (1989) | Hudson v. United States, 522 U.S. 93 (1997) |
Grady v. Corbin, 495 U.S. 508 (1990) | United States v. Dixon, 509 U.S. 688 (1993) | |
- Self-incrimination
- Due process
- Takings Clause
Sixth Amendment
- Jury right
- Confrontation Clause
- Right to counsel
Eighth Amendment
Eleventh Amendment
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Ford Motor Co. v. Department of Treasury, 323 U.S. 459 (1945) | Lapides v. Board of Regents of University System of Georgia, 535 U.S. 613 (2002) |
Parden v. Terminal Railroad Co. of Alabama Docks Department, 377 U.S. 184 (1964) | Welch v. Texas Department of Highways & Transportation, 483 U.S. 468 (1987) |
Parden v. Terminal Railroad Co. of Alabama Docks Department, 377 U.S. 184 (1964) | College Savings Bank v. Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Board, 527 U.S. 666 (1999) |
Shapiro v. Thompson, 394 U.S. 618 (1969) (in part) | Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651 (1974) |
State Department of Health & Rehabilitation Services. v. Zarate, 407 U.S. 918 (1972) | Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651 (1974) |
Sterrett v. Mothers’ & Children’s Rights Organization, 409 U.S. 809 (1973) | Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651 (1974) |
Wyman v. Bowens, 397 U.S. 49 (1970) | Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651 (1974) |
Pennsylvania v. Union Gas Co., 491 U.S. 1 (1989) | Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida, 517 U.S. 44 (1997) | |
Fourteenth Amendment
- Procedural due process
- Substantive due process
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Liggett Co. v. Baldridge, 278 U.S. 105 (1928) | North Dakota Pharmacy Board v. Snyder’s Drug Stores, 414 U.S. 156 (1973) |
City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health, 462 U.S. 416 (1983) | Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992) |
Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 476 U.S. 747 (1986) | Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992) |
Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986) | Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003) |
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) | Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) |
Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992) | Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) | |
- Equal protection
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Pace v. Alabama, 106 U.S. (16 Otto) 583 (1883) | McLaughlin v. Florida, 379 U.S. 184 (1964) |
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896) | Brown v. Board of Education, 347 US 483 (1954) |
Quaker City Cab Co. v. Pennsylvania, 277 U.S. 389 (1928) | Lehnhausen v. Lake Shore Auto Parts Co., 410 U.S. 356 (1973) |
Breedlove v. Suttles, 302 U.S. 277 (1937) | Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections, 383 U.S. 663 (1966) |
Goesaert v. Cleary, 335 U.S. 464 (1948) | Craig v. Boren, 429 U.S. 190 (1976) |
Morey v. Doud, 354 U.S. 457 (1957) | City of New Orleans v. Dukes, 427 U.S. 297 (1976) (per curiam) |
Hoyt v. Florida, 368 U.S. 57 (1961) | Taylor v. Louisiana, 419 U.S. 522 (1975) |
Swain v. Alabama, 380 U.S. 202 (1965) | Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986) |
Baker v. Nelson, 409 U.S. 810 (1972) | Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015) |
Metro Broadcasting, Inc. v. FCC, 497 U.S. 547 (1990) | Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Peña, 515 U.S. 200 (1995) | |
- Citizenship
Statutory
42 U.S.C. § 1983
Antitrust
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Dr. Miles Medical Co. v. John D. Park & Sons Co., 220 U.S. 373 (1911) | Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc., 551 U.S. 877 (2007) |
United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 332 U.S. 218 (1947) | Copperweld Corp. v. Independence Tube Corp., 467 U.S. 752 (1984) |
Kiefer-Stewart Co. v. Jos. E. Seagram & Sons, 340 U.S. 211 (1951) | Copperweld Corp. v. Independence Tube Corp., 467 U.S. 752 (1984) |
United States v. Arnold, Schwinn & Co., 388 U.S. 365 (1967) | Continental Television, Inc. v. GTE Sylvania, Inc., 433 U.S. 36 (1977) |
Albrecht v. Herald Co., 390 U.S. 145 (1968) | State Oil Co. v. Khan, 522 U.S. 3 (1997) | |
Federal crime
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
United States v. Bramblett, 348 U.S. 503 (1955) | Hubbard v. United States, 514 U.S. 695 (1995) |
Ward v. Race Horse, 163 U.S. 504 (1896) | Herrera v. Wyoming, 139 S. Ct. 1686 (2019) | |
Habeas
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Wales v. Whitney (1885) | Hensley v. Municipal Court, 411 U.S. 345 (1973) |
Baker v. Grice, 169 U.S. 284 (1898) | Hensley v. Municipal Court, 411 U.S. 345 (1973) |
Johnson v. Hoy, 227 U.S. 245 (1913) | Hensley v. Municipal Court, 411 U.S. 345 (1973) |
Stallings v. Splain, 253 U.S. 339 (1920) | Hensley v. Municipal Court, 411 U.S. 345 (1973) |
McNally v. Hill, 293 U.S. 131 (1934) | Peyton v. Rowe, 391 U.S. 54 (1968) |
Ahrens v. Clark, 335 U.S. 188 (1948) (in part) | Braden v. 30th Judicial Circuit Court of Kentucky, 410 U.S. 484 (1973) |
Parker v. Ellis, 362 U.S. 574 (1960) (per curiam) | Carafas v. LaVallee, 391 U.S. 234 (1968) |
Fay v. Noia, 372 U.S. 391 (1963) | Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722 (1991) |
Teague v. Lane (in part), 489 U.S. 288 (1989) | Edwards v. Vannoy, 593 U.S. ___ (2021) | |
Labor
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Moore v. Illinois Central Railroad, 312 U.S. 630 (1941) | Andrews v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad, 406 U.S. 320 (1972) |
United Auto Workers v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Board, 336 U.S. 245 (1949) | International Ass'n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, 427 U.S. 132 (1976) |
Sinclair Refining Co. v. Atkinson, 370 U.S. 195 (1962) | Boys Markets, Inc. v. Retail Clerks Union, 398 U.S. 235 (1970) | |
Common law
Admiralty
Overruled decision | Overruling decision |
---|
Rose v. Himley, 8 U.S. (4 Cranch) 241 (1808) | Hudson v. Guestier, 10 U.S. (6 Cranch) 281 (1810) |
The Thomas Jefferson v. District Court of Kentucky, 23 U.S. (10 Wheat.) 428 (1825) | The Genesee Chief v. Fitzhugh, 53 U.S. (12 How.) 443 (1851) |
The Schooner Catherine v. Dickinson, 58 U.S. (17 How.) 170 (1854) | United States v. Reliable Transfer Co., 421 U.S. 397 (1975) |
Minturn v. Maynard, 58 U.S. (17 How.) 476 (1855) | Exxon Corp. v. Central Gulf Lines Inc. 500 U.S. 603 (1991) |
The Harrisburg, 119 U.S. 199 (1886) | Moragne v. States Marine Lines, Inc., 398 U.S. 375 (1970) | |
Res judicata
See also
Further reading
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: The Supreme Court has overturned more than 300 rulings. Is Roe next?. Ryan . Struyk. September 6, 2018. CNN. 2020-01-17.