Big Supreme Court rulings occurred this day, in history

United States v. Morrison (decided May 15, 2000). The Supreme Court ruled that a statute allowing people to sue in federal court over gender-related violence was outside Congress’s Commerce Clause power nor did the Equal Protection clause allow federal law to apply to private conduct.

Randon v. Toby (decided May 15, 1851): The Supreme Court ruled that “The buying and selling of negroes, in a State where slavery is tolerated, and where color is prima facie evidence that such is the status of the person, cannot be said to be an illegal contract, and void on that account. The crime committed by those who introduced the negroes into the country does not attach to all those who may afterwards purchase them.”

United States v. Miller (decided May 15, 1939): The Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment guarantees only right to keep and bear arms in “reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia”. Contains long discussion of Articles of Confederation period, such as sentiment in favor of militias so as to obviate creation of a standing army and militia possession and training requirements states placed on males. The sawed-off shotgun at issue was not reasonably a militia weapon and therefore statute penalizing possession of such weapons (and requiring federal agency approval of any ownership or transfer of militia-type weapons) was within Congress’s power.

In re Gault (decided May 15, 1967): The Supreme Court ruled that a juvenile and his parents are entitled to due process (e.g., assistance of counsel, protection against self-incrimination) before commitment to “industrial school” as a delinquent

Fong Yue Ting v. United States (decided May 15, 1893): The Supreme Court ruled that the United States could expel without due process any Chinese laborer who does not get a residency card from the government within the first year.

Kulko v. Supreior Court of California (decided May 15, 1978): The Supreme Court ruled that a California court had no jurisdiction over a father in alimony dispute because he did not live there even though he had consented to the mother and children moving to California from New York in contravention of the separation agreement

Stephens v. Cherokee Nation (decided May 15, 1899): The Supreme Court ruled that an application for “citizenship” in an Indian tribe — which would allow participation in election of the tribal commission and ability to sue in federal court over certain disputes — can be denied without due process safeguards.