US Department of State
Biographies of the Secretaries of State: William Rufus Day (1849 1923)
Brief bio of William Rufus Day, statesman and Secretary of State to William McKinley for only 5 months and eventually serving on the U.S. Supreme Court for 20 years.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: The Preamble
The preamble is the introduction to the Constitution. It outlines the general goals of the framers: to create a just government and to ensure peace, adequate national defense, and a healthy, free nation. With its first three words, "We...
Other
Byron White
Biography on Byron White, Supreme Court Justice and former professional football player. Born in Colorado in 1917, he was appointed to the Supreme Court by President John Kennedy and was involved in some very famous decisions, including...
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez Project: Harry A. Blackmun
Links to biography, family and appointment information and to cases in which he participated while on the Supreme Court.
Other
Learning for Justice: Brown v. Board: An American Legacy
An article celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous Brown v. Board Supreme Court decision. Features background information, a timeline of integration of schools, interviews, and links to many other activities and resources covering...
Library of Congress
Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: John Marshall
A brief overview of the political life of the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Marbury v. Madison (1803)
This resource contains the full text of the 1803 Supreme court case, Marbury v. Madison opinion.
PBS
Pbs News Hour: John Roberts' First Day
A very telling report of Chief Justice John Roberts' first day in the Supreme Court. Transcript, audio, and video are available of this interesting report.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Who Shall Judge?
Well-written description of the process, qualifications, and constitutional background on selecting Supreme Court justices.
This Nation
This nation.com: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
This site from ThisNation.com provides Justice Henry B. Brown's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case, written by Henry B. Brown.
This Nation
This nation.com: Dred Scott v. Sanford (1856)
This site from ThisNation.com provides Chief Justice Roger B. Taney's full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case.
This Nation
This nation.com: New York Times Co. V. Sullivan (1964)
This site from ThisNation.com provides Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.'s full text of the Supreme Court's decision in this landmark case.
Other
Thomas P. Vincent Law Office: Common Law: Holmes Pollock Letters
These excerpts from a long-running correspondence between Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. and Frederick Pollock, offer insight into the ideology of this Supreme Court Justice and American history.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Plessy v. Ferguson (Excerpts)
Find excerpts of the controverisal Supreme Court decision, Plessy v Ferguson along with the dissenting opinion by Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall Harlan.
This Nation
This nation.com: Branzburg v. Hayes
ThisNation.com offers the "Opinion of the court by Mr. Justice White," for the Supreme Court case of Branzburg v. Hayes, 1972.
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Plessy v Ferguson
Read the Supreme Court opinion that solidified the concept of separate, but equal in American law. The dissenting opinion written by Justice John Harlan is also included.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez: Summary of Zelman v. Simmons Harris
This is a great summary of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris where the Supreme Court upheld school vouchers. Gives the dates the case was heard and decided, facts of the case, legal question presented, the courts decision, and how each justice...
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Salmon P. Chase, Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Essay describing the attempts of Salmon Chase, the Supreme Court Chief Justice, to ensure that President Andrew Johnson received fair treatment at his impeachment trial in 1868.
PBS
Pbs News Hour: Alito Becomes 110th Supreme Court Justice
January, 2006 report on the confirmation and swearing in of Justice Samuel Alito.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Clarence Thomas
Extensive biographical resource tool for gathering information on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas who is the only African American member of the court. Includes suggestions for further reading.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Thurgood Marshall
A description of the inspiring life of the first black Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. Learn why he is remembered as a self-less hardworking advocate for the less fortunate. (In Spanish)
Seymour Brody
Jewish Heroes in America: Arthur Goldberg
Chronicles the life of former Supreme Court Justice and Secretary of Labor under JFK, Arthur Goldberg. In 1965, he resigned from the Supreme Court to become the United Nations Ambassador. He died in 1990 after leading a very active life...
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Portraits of Sandra Day O' Connor
The National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian Institute presents a slideshow of seven portraits of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: October 2: Thurgood Marshall
Site about the noted career of Thurgood Marshall, leading civil rights advocate and first African-American to sit on the Supreme Court. This article has information on his education, his work with the NAACP, his involvement in Brown v....