Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections, 383 U.S. 663 (decided March 24, 1966): poll tax violates Equal Protection (though literacy tests are o.k.)
Ramirez v. Collier, 595 U.S. 411 (decided March 24, 2022): execution stayed because defendant had valid argument that prohibiting his pastor from laying hands on him in the execution chamber violated First Amendment (state allowed pastor to lay on hands, and Ramirez was executed on Oct. 5, 2022)
United States v. George, 228 U.S. 14 (decided March 24, 1913): homesteader lied about his time of residence on land but residence by statute has to be proven by two non-homesteader witnesses; administrative rule only, so conviction for perjury vacated
Black v. Thorne, 111 U.S. 122 (decided March 24, 1884): only nominal damages for patent infringement (fuel formula for producing steam) because infringer did not save money on the production of steam, even if saved money overall
Dominion Hotel v. Arizona, 249 U.S. 265 (decided March 24, 1919): Arizona law restricting working hours for women in hotels did not violate Dormant Commerce Clause; did not apply to employees in restaurants along train lines (i.e., interstate commerce)
Bank of Iron Gate v. Brady, 184 U.S. 665 (decided March 24, 1902): tort claim booted from federal court when death of defendant brought value of case below jurisdictional minimum (evidently overruled by St. Paul Mercury Indem. Co. v. Red Cab Co., 1938 (“events occurring subsequent to the institution of suit which reduce the amount recoverable below the statutory limit do not oust jurisdiction”)
Kaiser v. New York, 394 U.S. 280 (decided March 24, 1969): wiretapped conversations (in pay phone in bar) were not illegal at the time so are admissible in state prosecution
Colorado River Water Conservation District v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (decided March 24, 1976): federal courts will abstain in state water rights dispute where federal government got dragged into state court by McCarran Amendment even though government sued in federal court first (McCarran Amendment gives automatic consent for federal government to be joined in any water rights suit) (this case is the source of the “Colorado River abstention” doctrine)
Greer v. Spock, 424 U.S. 828 (decided March 24, 1976): This is Dr. Benjamin Spock, of “Baby and Child Care” (a very reasonable and sensible book for new parents — the first sentence is, “You know more than you think you do”). Here, Spock, running for president on the People’s Party and trying to distribute political literature at Fort Dix, fails in overturning a regulation prohibiting political speech (though not other types of the speech) at Fort Dix even if invited.
Houston Community College System v. Wilson, 595 U.S. 468 (decided March 24, 2022): no First Amendment retaliation claim when trustee of public college was censured by his board for “inappropriate” and “reprehensible” conduct; not an adverse action, and criticism comes with the territory (fittingly, he was censured for bringing multiple lawsuits against the board)
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