Today in Supreme Court History: March 26

Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (decided March 26, 1962): federal courts have jurisdiction over suits alleging disproportionate redistricting in violation of Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection (on remand the District Court approved mixed by county/by population plan, 206 F. Supp. 314, probably would not pass muster under later case law)

United States v. Castleman, 572 U.S. 157 (decided March 26, 2014): prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence qualified as “use or attempted use of force” so as to criminalize gun possession under 18 U.S.C. §922 (extended in United States v. Rahimi, 2024, to those adjudged a threat after a hearing)

Department of Housing and Urban Development v. Rucker, 535 U.S. 125 (decided March 26, 2002): upholding eviction of family from public housing based on violation of lease provision prohibiting illegal drug use by household member, even though drug use (by grandchildren) was blocks away and unknown to lessees; unanimous decision

Barnett Bank of Marion County v. Nelson, 517 U.S. 25 (decided March 26, 1996): Florida prohibited banks from selling insurance, but preempted by federal law permitting it

United States v. Gaubert, 499 U.S. 315 (decided March 26, 1991): dismisses suit against federal regulators for negligent supervision of an S&L association which went belly-up; regulators’ informal methods were within Federal Tort Claims Act’s “discretionary function”

EEOC v. Arabian American Oil Co., 499 U.S. 244 (decided March 26, 1991): Title VII (can’t discriminate based on race, religion or national origin) doesn’t apply overseas; American employer can discriminate against its American employee (superseded by statute, see Arbaugh v. Y & H Corp., 2006)

Holbrook v. Flynn, 475 U.S. 560 (decided March 26, 1986): stationing extra security officers in front row of spectator section did not deprive defendant of fair trial (he was being tried with four others)

Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Ward, 470 U.S. 869 (decided March 26, 1985): Charging out-of-state insurers higher tax rate violated Dormant Commerce Clause; “promotion of domestic business by discriminating against nonresident competitors is not a legitimate state purpose”. Opinion by Powell, who according to my legal writing professor was the clearest writer on the Court at the time.

Huddleston v. United States, 415 U.S. 814 (decided March 26, 1974): Another 18 U.S.C. §922 case, this time applying the provision criminalizing false statements made to registered gun dealers. In redeeming gun his wife had pawned, husband falsely told pawnbroker that he had never been convicted of a felony (redemption was “acquisition” under the statute).

Republic of Sudan v. Harrison, 587 U.S. 1 (decided March 26, 2019): under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, when suing foreign country can’t serve papers on embassy in United States; must serve foreign minister’s home office (suit for personal injuries due to terrorist attack)